South Central Reporter

As summer violence continues to escalate across the country, veteran state Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Beecher City) is calling for action.

“While politicians, actors, sports stars and everyone else are busy virtue signaling to the mob, innocent children continue to be gunned down in Democrat-run cities,” Wilhour said. “We have systemic issues, but this is the real-time crisis that results from ceding moral and physical territory to the mob.”

Wilhour’s ire was raised to new levels when more than 70 people were shot and killed in Chicago over the Fourth of July weekend, at least 14 of them fatally. Among the victims was a 7-year-old girl, who was struck by a stray bullet while visiting her grandmother’s west-side home. Natalia Wallace’s killing marked the third-straight weekend when a child under the age of 10 was shot and killed in Chicago.

“These are tragedies that didn’t have to happen,” added Wilhour, also making mention of the recent tragic shootings of 3-year-old Mekhi James and 13-year-old Amaria Jones.

In the end, the veteran lawmaker is on record in asserting that it all comes down to leadership.

“Chicago and Illinois are in desperate need of real leaders that are committed to bring real opportunity to these communities,” he said. “Innocent people are dying. Toddlers and teenagers being struck with stray bullets. Chicago is literally a war zone. Pray for these families and the people trapped in these situations.”

To combat it all, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown recently announced he is creating “a specialized citywide unit to tackle violent crime and create community partnerships in some of Chicago’s most challenging areas.”

Wilhour sighs none of it can come a moment too soon.