Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot proposed an ordinance Monday that would allow the city to seize gang members' assets in an effort to combat violence throughout the city.
For 20 years, prosecutors have used the Illinois Street Gang Prevention Act to sue suburban gang members and prevent them from owning guns. While the strategy has earned mixed results, Lightfoot plans to adopt a similar, more expanded approach.
"What we are proposing is a tool in civil courts that gives us the opportunity to go after those gangs that are wreaking havoc and in particular, take away the profit motive from them by seizing assets that they have been able to purchase because of their violent activity in our neighborhoods," Lightfoot said.
Critics of the ordinance argued the strategy will do little to decrease the gang violence in Chicago. However, Chicago police officials believe that taking away the gangs' guns, money, and cars will prevent them from glamorizing the lifestyle and recruiting additional members.
"We can’t wait for anybody else," the mayor said. "We have an opportunity to bring these violent street gangs into civil court, out of the shadows, expose them for what they are, and, if we're successful -- I think we will be -- take their assets and the profit motive for killing our babies. We have to put a marker down that we are using every tool in our toolkit to push back against these violent gangs that are leaving a trail of blood and death and misery in their wake."
Mayor Lori Lightfoot's ordinance will need to be approved by the City Council before it is implemented.
Source: FOX 32
