It’s hard to read each Monday about the number of shootings and murders that have occurred in Chicago the previous weekend without thinking of a city that used to be a fun and exciting place to visit as anything but a war zone. There were 72 reported shootings in Chicago this past weekend, and they lead to nearly a dozen murders. One of the victims, was Ella French, a 3-year veteran of the Cook county sheriff’s department.  You probably didn’t hear much about the carnage in Chicago because  violence has become so common in the windy city.  I’ve visited Chicago 3 times since 1,988 and never during those visits did I feel my safety was threatened. That certainly wouldn’t be the case today. Police blame a flood of illegal guns on the streets, liberal court judges, and an overall lack of respect for law and order. There also seems to be a lack of recognition among some Chicago city leaders, that they have a real violence problem on their hands. We had talked for a time about taking a trip to Chicago this summer to take in a Cubs game, but that won’t be happening any time soon. That’s the way I see it.