The gun free zone signs need backup.
Via ABC 7:
Local businesses are paying for armed guards to patrol State Street in the Loop so shoppers and pedestrians feel safe coming downtown.
The guards are known as “street ambassadors,” and they will be able to make arrests.
Thursday is the first day for the security detail, now out patrolling the State Street corridor thanks to the Chicago Loop Alliance.
“The Chicago Loop Alliance, their whole purpose is making the downtown Loop a more livable, workable safe friendly, inviting environment and I think that clearly adds to that,” Jean de St. Aubin, executive director of the Gene Siskel Film Center.
The Gene Siskel Film Center is a member of the alliance.
“We have over 85,000 people come to the Gene Siskel Center every year, a lot of them residents and students and people who live downtown, so I think just the presence of the extra security makes people feel a little more comfortable,” Jean de St. Aubin said.
The Chicago Loop Alliance says the new guards will help create a safer environment and help cut down on crime. The guards will be uniformed, equipped with badges and a gun, a detail that had some people on edge.
“Just knowing that there are going to be extra guns on the street just to’ protect us,’ it can be a little bit jarring and scary, but I guess were just going to see how that’s going to go down,” said Martin Molina.
HT: Marathon Pundit