Superintendent Jody Weis gives cops benefit of the doubt, making the un-American assumption that all citizens are guilty until proven innocent

CHICAGO, Illinois - July 25, 2008 - Mayor Richard Daley was adamant Friday about Chicago's intention to defend its handgun ban in court, despite news that a second area suburb was likely to repeal its ordinance next week.

Morton Grove, which along with Chicago and other communities was sued by the National Rifle Association, is poised to repeal its first-in-the-nation handgun ban next week. Wilmette already has suspended its handgun ordinance in the wake of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down a similar law in Washington.

"Morton Grove can do anything that it wants," Daley said at an unrelated news conference. "I don't look at this lightly - that, 'Oh, because the Supreme Court's done it we're just gonna dismiss it and all of a sudden people can arm themselves,' " he said.

Without getting into details, Daley also said if the gun ban was overturned, the city would need to consider other ways to protect emergency workers. "You have to look at a new ordinance in order to protect firemen and policemen going to the scenes of people who arm themselves in their own homes."

Earlier Friday, Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis met with Alderman Robert Fioretti and community activists at Second Presbyterian Church on the Near South Side to discuss ways to end a rash of summer violence.

Fioretti called upon city officials, clergy and parents to be more involved in the lives of children and young adults. "We must raise our expectations of children and start investing in them."

Weis asked for more help from the community.

"People know their blocks, they know their streets. If you see something out of place, pick up the phone and call police," Weis said.

He also appealed to residents to participate Saturday in the city's gun turn-in program - now in its fourth year. Earlier this week, Daley made a similar appeal, rejecting questions about such programs' effectiveness.

Guns can be dropped off from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 25 locations throughout the city, no questions asked, police said. Participants will receive a $100 prepaid MasterCard for turning in guns.

Since 2006, more than 11,000 guns have been collected through the buyback program, said police.

Weis also defended Chicago police officers that are facing a federal lawsuit for allegedly beating a paralyzed man. "I will always give my officers the benefit of the doubt unless the facts prove otherwise," he said.

Ed. Note: Sieg Heil, mein Commandant!  Maybe somebody should inform the criminals Mayor Daley and Superintendent Weis that in America, ordinary citizens are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and we never give the police or any other government official the benefit of the doubt!  That benefit belongs to ordinary citizens.