{"id":20815,"date":"2013-01-14T22:22:39","date_gmt":"2013-01-14T21:22:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/headline\/2013\/01\/14-5"},"modified":"2013-01-14T22:22:39","modified_gmt":"2013-01-14T21:22:39","slug":"chicago-takes-the-lead-in-assault-weapon-divestment-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/rinf.com\/alt-news\/breaking-news\/chicago-takes-the-lead-in-assault-weapon-divestment-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Takes the Lead in Assault Weapon Divestment"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today that Chicago would take the first step in firearm divestment by examining all city pension funds for investments in assault weapons manufacturers and sellers.<\/p>\n

\"\"(Photo: Olivier Douliery\/ MCT\/ Newscom)<\/span><\/span> Speaking at a gun violence event at the Center for American Progress, Emanuel said he would \u201clead a charge among all mayors,\u201d urging them to do the same.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do know that there are some holdings, and they may not add up to a lot of money, but every dollar matters,\u201d said<\/a> City Comptroller Amer Ahmad of the city’s five major pension funds, which contain more than $13.5 billion in assets.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope that other cities and states start picking this up, and we\u2019re hearing that others may,\u201d he added. \u201cThis could become a good national movement.\u201d<\/p>\n

This big announcement comes as the city homocide rate posted a 15 percent rise<\/a> over the previous year, with 513 people killed in Chicago in 2012\u2013mostly by gun violence.<\/p>\n

Sparking what appears to be a trend, last week<\/a> a California teachers pension fund voted unanimously to divest from the firearm industry, calling the Dec. 14 Sandy Hook massacre a “tipping point” in the ongoing battle over guns and gun legislation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced today that Chicago would take the first step in firearm divestment by examining all city pension funds for investments in assault weapons manufacturers and sellers.<\/p>\n

\"\"(Photo: Olivier Douliery\/ MCT\/ Newscom)<\/span><\/span> Speaking at a gun violence event at the Center for American Progress, Emanuel said he would “lead a charge among all mayors,” urging them to do the same.<\/p>\n

“We do know that there are some holdings, and they may not add up to a lot of money, but every dollar matters,” said<\/a> City Comptroller Amer Ahmad of the city’s five major pension funds, which contain more than $13.5 billion in assets.<\/p>\n

“We hope that other cities and states start picking this up, and we’re hearing that others may,” he added. “This could become a good national movement.”<\/p>\n

This big announcement comes as the city homocide rate posted a 15 percent rise<\/a> over the previous year, with 513 people killed in Chicago in 2012—mostly by gun violence.<\/p>\n

Sparking what appears to be a trend, last week<\/a> a California teachers pension fund voted unanimously to divest from the firearm industry, calling the Dec. 14 Sandy Hook massacre a “tipping point” in the ongoing battle over guns and gun legislation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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