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By Larry Keane<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed a new executive order<\/a><\/strong> creating a taxpayer-funded, stand-alone Department of Gun Violence Reduction after a violent crime-filled Juneteenth and Father\u2019s Day weekend left eight dead and 40 wounded. That includes<\/a><\/strong> 14 victims who were shot during a Juneteenth celebration in Princeton Park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chicagoans aren\u2019t getting a serious response from elected officials. Instead, they are resorting to familiar responses of blaming firearms, firearm manufacturers, lawful gun owners, other states, historical grievances and political opponents for the criminal violence on their streets the city has for decades failed to seriously address. Blame shifting and deflecting responsibility will not make Chicagoans safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The new department will carry a $100 million annual budget<\/a><\/strong> and move existing violence reduction programs under one umbrella. Mayor Johnson said the idea would \u201censure\u201d those efforts are aligned. But Chicago does not suffer from a shortage of gun control offices, slogans or taxpayer-funded programs. It suffers from a dearth of effective leadership<\/a><\/strong> and shortage of consequences for violent criminals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n