Chicago had another bloody weekend with a string of gun violence incidents. It’s an issue that seemingly comes up every single week as the Windy City deals with an ongoing rash of violent crimes. Over 30 people were shot, including six children.

However, there is one incident that brings a more nuanced perspective to the overall debate over violent crime and lawful gun ownership. A Chicago man is still alive thanks to his firearm, which he used to protect himself and his property from a home intruder on Monday.

A man is in the hospital after he was shot after allegedly entering another man’s home in Chicago’s Belmont Cragin neighborhood.

CPD officers responded to the 2100 block of North Meade following several reports of an alleged attempted break-in just after 12:45 p.m. on Monday.

Police say a man allegedly walked into a home in the area without permission and was shot twice by the 26-year-old homeowner.

Neighbors in the area reported hearing three to five gunshots ring out sometime around noon and residents watched as first responders removed someone on a stretcher.

According to Chicago paramedics, a 35-year-old man was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

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The intruder fled after the altercation, but law enforcement later located him.

This is one of many stories I have written highlighting why gun ownership is so important. The debate about gun control often results in further restricting access to firearms. Illinois isn’t exactly friendly to those who wish to keep and bear arms, as evidenced by the assault weapon ban the state’s government recently passed.

If Illinois’ laws were even more strict, the homeowner in this story might not have survived the encounter with the intruder. Indeed, these laws make people more vulnerable instead of keeping them safe. Anton Williams, one of the homeowner’s neighbors, supported his use of a gun to defend himself. “If somebody comes to your house with drama, you do what you got to do,” he told WGN.

No sane person wishes to find themselves in a situation where they might have to use a gun to stop an assailant. However, gun owners understand that these situations can arise whether we want them to or not – especially in a city like Chicago.

This story also conveys the brutal reality that the police cannot always be there to save you. CPD officers had to respond to several instances of gun violence and other violent crimes. In most cases, they are not able to arrive quickly enough to stop a bad guy from harming a victim. This is why it is important for people to take responsibility for their own protection.

Many gun laws are being struck down due to the Supreme Court’s ruling in New York Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen. Hopefully, advocates for gun rights can use the legal system to make it easier for people in Illinois to carry firearms for their protection.