Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson hates police while he defends violent criminals. This has been known for a while based on his actions and rhetoric, but he stooped to a new low this week when he said, “Jails and incarceration and law enforcement is a sickness that has not led to safe communities.”
Chicago’s streets remain plagued by violence, with incidents like the Labor Day weekend shootings leaving 54 people wounded and seven dead. Governor JB Pritzker has downplayed such events, suggesting that crime comes with the territory of urban living. Yet Johnson takes a different tack, arguing against traditional law enforcement measures. He has labeled jailing criminals as “racist, unholy and doesn’t lower violent crime rates.”
This position raises questions about effective public safety strategies in a city where repeat offenders drive much of the turmoil. Johnson’s reluctance to embrace incarceration overlooks evidence that removing high-risk individuals from circulation can curb violence. Data from various studies show that a narrow segment of the population accounts for a disproportionate share of crimes, making targeted enforcement a practical approach.
Johnson has also pointed fingers at neighboring areas for Chicago’s gun problems. “These guns come from red states. They are coming from Indiana. They are coming from Mississippi. They are coming from Louisiana. And that is the harsh reality, whether Republicans like it or not,” he stated.
This claim persists despite federal records telling a different story. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ 2023 trace data for Illinois, the state itself was the primary source for recovered firearms, with 9,147 traces originating locally. Indiana followed with 2,796, while Missouri and Wisconsin contributed 952 and 663, respectively. Mississippi ranked fifth at 419, and Louisiana did not even appear in the top 15. These figures suggest that local factors play a larger role than external ones in arming criminals.
The mayor’s emphasis on alternatives to policing has drawn scrutiny, especially after recent events involving so-called peacekeepers. Kellen McMiller, a participant in violence prevention programs who once posed for a photo with Governor Pritzker, faced charges in a smash-and-grab at a Louis Vuitton store on Michigan Avenue. The incident escalated into a crash that killed 40-year-old Mark Arceta, a father-to-be. Cases like this illustrate the risks of relying on unvetted individuals in community safety roles, potentially exacerbating the very problems they aim to solve.
Vice President JD Vance has offered a counterpoint, stressing the need for decisive action against chronic violators.
“The reality is that the gross majority of violent crime is committed by a very small group of people and we should be throwing them in prison,” Vance said.
His view aligns with research indicating concentrated criminal activity. As detailed in City Journal, “Violent crime is heavily concentrated in a relatively few individuals. In general, 5 percent of the criminal offenders (not 5 percent of the general population) in a given city commit about 50 percent of that city’s violent crime. One study found that just 1 percent of offenders were responsible for over 60 percent of violent crime.”
Focusing on these “violence generators” through arrests and prosecutions has proven effective, as seen in New York where gang takedowns reduced gun violence by about one-third in affected areas.
Meanwhile, Washington, D.C., under President Trump’s renewed focus on law and order, has seen tangible improvements, including stretches of at least ten days without homicides. This progress stands in stark contrast to Chicago’s ongoing struggles, where policies favoring deflection over detention continue to face criticism from residents demanding safer neighborhoods.
An anonymous commenter on X captured the sentiment of many: “Imagine saying that to the families of officers killed in the line of duty. Police aren’t the sickness.”
Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.