Police: Over 3,200 firearms seized in first half of 2014

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago Police Superintendent Garry F. McCarthy announced Tuesday that Chicago police have seized more than 3,200 firearms in the first six months of 2014. McCarthy says that number highlights the need for stronger laws to stem the flow of illegal guns on the streets.

McCarthy was joined by 7th District Deputy Chief Leo Schmitz, whose district encompasses Englewood, to discuss recent incidents that support the call for stricter gun legislation. Those incidents included a case last week when Englewood officers found a convicted felon in a park after closing hours with a loaded semi-automatic firearm and cannabis. In another unrelated incident, Englewood officers responded to a call of a person with a gun and, after the search of the suspect's vehicle, recovered a 9mm Glock with an extended magazine. Incidents like these, according to McCarthy and Schmitz, are far from uncommon.

According to McCarthy, Chicago Police recover more illegal firearms than any police in any other city in the country, and do so without a state law requiring significant jail time for those who carry guns illegally.

"Our targeted initiatives, perseverance and collaborative relationships with community leaders, aldermen, clergy and residents have yielded undeniable progress," McCarthy said, "but our officers and communities still face the realities of firearms and we need stronger laws to keep illegal guns off our streets, and to punish the dangerous criminals carrying them."