Editorial: Turning the tide on Chicago’s gun violence

Ten people were killed and at least 56 others were wounded in incidents of gun violence across the city of Chicago during the Fourth of July weekend, police have said. Consider the horror of that for a moment on this warm summer’s day. Think about how many families’ lives have been changed forever.

Such crime reports have, of course, become both inuring and routine to Chicagoans, especially during the warm weather months. Many of us shake our heads and talk about the need for a solution, any solution to the city’s most persistent and devastating problem. What can possibly be done?

Today, the Tribune’s Opinion section begins a four-part weekly series with the title, “Turning the tide on Chicago’s gun violence.” We’ve asked a wide range of expert contributors from all over the city, from many walks of life and of different ideological perspectives, to write about what they think can, and should, be done. We’ve divided this collection up into different sections.

Today’s first pieces try to define the parameters of this dismal situation in an attempt to get more people to understand what really is happening. Next week we’ll look at emergency intervention tactics to prevent lethal shootings in the moment that they happen. On the following Sunday, we’ll turn our attention to long-term strategies. And then, finally, we’ll ask this question: “What can every Chicagoan do?”

We hope you’ll read them all and then tell us what you think.

Join the discussion on Twitter @chitribopinions and on Facebook.

Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com.