The Crouton Theory of Political Gaffes

Journalists want gaffes; politicians want to avoid them; which makes journalists want them all the more. It’s a vicious cycle, but one that long predates 24/7 coverage and social media… as Mitt Romney’s dad could have told you.

Where Do Chicago's Guns Come From?

Mostly from Illinois and Indiana—and a surprising percentage come north from Mississippi. As far as how people get them, straw buyers are frequent, but friends, family members, addicts, and burglaries are all available means of illegally obtaining a weapon.

Can Pat Quinn Ban Assault Weapons in Illinois?

Illinois has long been a key battleground in the debate over the Second Amendment, from the banning of labor militias in the 1870s, to the tommy guns that curtailed Americans’ rights to certain types of guns, to Morton Grove’s handgun ban, the first in the nation. And that past history, stretching back to the Civil War, determines what the state can and can’t do.