It is not just in Chicago, but all over people are angry, bored, out of work and downright scared.
This leads to short tempers, and bar fights that would have a few years ago been contained in the bar, spill out into the street, and become huge mobs of folks in short order.
Even Boise is not immune, and the local PD had to call in serious backup, and only when they showed up in large number, with riot gear, did the crowd finally back down, and go home. (A few were arrested, but 99% just went home.)
What happens if food prices continue to go up? Gas prices are insane. Folks are losing their jobs left and right, in addition to the folks who have lost their jobs nearly two years ago. Retirement savings are being used up, and people do not see a bright future, so they are pissed and looking to vent.
That "flashmobs" of punks in the inner city create problems is nothing new. Gangs of kids have been causing problems for decades, and really, in all recorded history, there are pirates, outlaws and gangs that have threatened the peaceful citizens since the dawn of time.
In good times, the best you can hope for is not to encounter them. In times like we live in today, the hope is swiftly becoming that you survive your encounter with them. It is less of a if, but a when, and fortune favors the prepared.
Any weapons would be better than none, and the FsN has 21 rounds, low recoil, and light weight all on your side. If you have a PS90 in backup, holding off a crowd of people just became more possible, especially if you can return fire with two people now.
One last glimmer of good news. About a year ago, I was at the local indoor range in the winter time. This group of "gang bangers" came in, and were shooting at the lanes next to me. They had two girls with them, and a collection of Glock's, a bright nickle plate 1911 with pearl grips and were perhaps the worst shots I've seen in many years.
I was shooting my then new M&P9 with a crimson trace grip, and a .22LR conversion on my PT99. After a few targets, and just watching them shooting and not even hitting full size targets at less than 15', one of the girls comes over and says "You seem to be hitting the target just fine, what is the key?" (I was doing drills, two center of mass, follow up shot to the head with the same full size targets...) I just told her practice is the key.
What I did not want to tell them is gun control, training and not holding the pistol sideways is the key? Seriously, they were shooting from the hip, holding the pistols "gangsta style" with the weapon sideways, or nearly turned upside down at points, no supporting hand shots, blazing away and not even hitting the target, or clipping the edges at best.
When I did some weak hand shots, one of the guys came over and asked me to check his pistol, he thought the sights were off, and also wanted to know why I shot the way I did etc. (I was doing the usual, using the range dividers as "cover" practice, or kneeling at the table for practice shooting over or from behind cover as well as just standing there. I don't do draw drills when there are others near me at the range.)
So I cleared my guns, put them in my bag, and stepped over to their booths. Looked over the pistols, and watched them shoot even more closely. Had I watched sooner, I'd have left. They were swinging loaded pistols around with fingers on the trigger, no trigger disipline at all actually. The "Style" of turning the pistol sideways was touted as more stable, and able to control recoil better for second shots to other targets near by... Since we were the only people in the range, and they had 3 booths, I said let's do a drill, and see.
We setup 4 full sized carbord, man sized cutouts, one in each lane. Put them at 25' to make sure the rounds would all hit the trap, and not the walls. (I hoped.) Then told them the goal was to put 2 rounds into each target, center of mass, in as little time as possible. (Only 8 rounds, so even their fancy .45 could do the job.) I loaded up the M&P9, and holstered it. They loaded up, and the guy with the .45 wanted to go first.
He turns his gun sideways, and blazes away. first target is hit low and left, missed second round, second target is missed entirely, one round high and right on the third and nothing on the 4th. 8 rounds, two hits, none are center of mass, but still hits to a leg/hip or shoulder. We run them in, tape up the holes and the other two guys do the same, with only one of them getting hits on all 4, but lots of misses. The girls try, and the gal that came over and asked me actually got two hits on 4 of the 4, but she is now shooting in a much better stance, and clearly has been watching what works!
)
Taped up the holes, and ran them back out. Then explained that training, and stance is important. Also using cover is important, and cover can help steady the weapon if used right as well. Also that shooting fast, but not hitting anything is not going to stop a threat, but might scare a threat into taking cover at best. Then put two center, and one head in all three, and a nice set of eyeballs on the 4th one just for fun. (So three rounds, in the head, one for the nose, with two eyes...
I used both sides of the range booth as "cover" and to steady the shots, and shot fast, but not at the expense of accuracy.
I probably should not have taught them anything, but I did spend some time on gun safety, trigger disipline, and they stopped shooting the damn pistols sideways! Hopefully they will not shoot each other, and I explained they should not shoot out of lane ever with anyone else there, and only at longer ranges, to make sure the bullets are going into the trap. Then I left, because I value my life, and they were still way too comfortable with loaded weapons, and how they handled them.
On my way out, I mentioned this to the range officer, and she said she had never seen them before, and we are pretty good buddies. She agreed to keep an eye on them. Good thing the windows from the range into the shop are bullet proof....
Back on topic. Most "flash mob" gangsters will be poorly trained from what I've seen. If they don't shoot each other, anyone who keeps a cool head, and fires for effect and to remove any "leaders" from the pack will most likely prevail, and walk away from the confrontation. I would flee first, but if there is no other option, head shots to conserve ammo is #1 on my list.