In this Bearing Arms article, Tom Knighton criticizes Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for canceling the ShotSpotter contract, demanding he answer for the decision amid rising questions about its impact on public safety.
- Johnson terminated ShotSpotter, citing a University of Chicago study, but experts note the study did not examine gunshot response times—the technology’s primary purpose.
- Chicago Crime Lab estimated ShotSpotter saved 85 lives per year by enabling faster responses and locating victims.
- A recent Chicago Lawn shooting saw a victim found by passersby after no 911 call, highlighting delayed response without the system.
- Johnson previously called ShotSpotter “racist,” yet it aided Black communities disproportionately affected by gun violence.
- Violent crime trends and seasonal factors better explain response time changes than the contract cancellation.
- The mayor’s ideological opposition to the tool raises accountability questions as residents face consequences of reduced detection capabilities.
Read the full story:
https://bearingarms.com/tomknighton/2026/07/13/chicagos-brandon-johnson-has-a-lot-to-answer-for-after-canceling-shotspotter-contract-n1233154
