Everytown for Gun Safety has shared some ideas on its website for how people can discuss gun control during Thanksgiving dinner.
The discussion piece titled “Debunking Gun Myths” offers potential responses for relatives who stand by the Second Amendment.
For instance, if someone says, “Guns don’t kill people, people kill people,” Everytown suggests countering with, “People with guns kill people, and they do it more effectively than those without guns.”
In another example, when a family with Second Amendment supporters argues, “Strong gun control doesn’t work. Look at Chicago,” the recommendation is to respond, “We don’t want strong gun control—look at Chicago.” They point out that Chicago highlights the necessity for stringent federal gun laws, as many firearms linked to crime in Chicago come from states with lax gun laws.
However, Everytown’s resources don’t mention the existing various gun laws in the Chicago area, which are also prevalent throughout Illinois.
These statewide regulations encompass red flag laws, a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchases, a prohibition on concealed carry for self-defense in public transport, a ban on “assault weapons,” restrictions on “high-capacity” magazines, and a requirement for Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) cards, which necessitate a background check by the Illinois State Police.
Moreover, Chicago falls under Cook County, which enforces its own ban on “assault weapons” and “high-capacity” magazines.
Despite these regulations, Chicago has experienced over 32,000 shooting victims in the past decade, alongside more than 6,200 murders during the same timeframe.
Notably, 2023 data from the ATF regarding gun recovery in Illinois suggests that most of the firearms traced back come from the state itself.
According to ATF information, in 2023, 22,973 firearms were recovered or traced in Illinois, with 9,147 sourced from Illinois itself, and Indiana following with only 2,796.
Beyond Indiana, fewer than 1,000 guns were traced from any single other state—952 from Missouri, 663 from Wisconsin, and 390 from Tennessee.
