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CHICAGO, Sept.7 (Xinhua) -- Chicago's 500th homicide of the year occurred over the Labor Day weekend, making 2016 the deadlist year in two decades, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The homicide rate in Chicago surpassed that of other big cities in the United States, such as New York and Los Angeles. But smaller cities like New Orleans, St. Louis, Detroit and Baltimore have registered higher rates.
The 500 figure is very disturbing as the number of homicides is surging.
In the early 2000s, the homicide rate in Chicago remained steady. However, there has been an upward trend since 2014.
Many homicides are gun-related despite Chicago having very strict gun laws. Nearly 82 shootings happen very week and eight gun-related homicides and 64 non-fatal shootings occurred in just one weekend in August.
More than half the guns are purchased outside Chicago, probably from neighboring states such as Wisconsin and Indiana which have lax gun policies.
Residents in Chicago are keeping themselves inside their homes out of fear and teaching their children to duck and dodge bullets when they hear gunshots.
People believe the state government has to address the root causes of the violence instead of laying both the responsibility and blame on the police.
