(We are pleased to post Chicago Public Schools CEO Arne Duncan's remarks from the ICHV Lincoln Awards luncheon).

I wish we could stand here today and declare victory over gun violence.

I would love to salute elected officials across the State of Illinois for having the political courage to pass common sense gun laws that would keep our children safe.

I want to look in the eyes of our children and promise them that they will be safe – and that their only concern is whether they did their homework not whether they can walk to school.

I wish we could preserve their innocence long enough to foster a love of learning instead of a fear of death.

I wish that our society valued children more than it values violent rituals and traditions that might have been at home in a frontier society two centuries ago but make absolutely no sense today.

I wish for all of these things – but none of them are yet true..

We have lost eight Chicago public school students to gun violence since the start of the school year.
That’s two a week.

At this rate we could lose 60 or 80 kids this year. Last year – we lost 35 and the year before we lost 29. It’s not a good trend.

Three of our students died this past weekend.

One of them – 13-year-old Sameere Conn -- went to Bright Elementary School. He was buying a bag of chips after football practice when shots came through a store window and killed him. At this time tomorrow I’ll be speaking at his funeral.

17-year-old Kiyanna Salter of Julian High School was on a bus when two men got in a fight. One of them left the bus, fired back through the window and killed her.

17-year-old Shaun Brown of Fenger High School was at a party last weekend when a fight spilled out into the street. Moments later he was dead.

We had six other shootings this weekend—at 11 in the morning – 6 pm. –at eight, at 11 at night and at 5:30 in the morning – on the South Side, the West Side and the Southeast side.

It can happen anytime, anywhere – and we just live with it year after year.

It makes me sick with sadness to see young lives destroyed in a moment of stupidity and confusion.

If they fought with fists and words like we did -- they would be alive today.

But instead our children are dying and no one can stop it. Not the police, the community, the parents, the kids, the courts, the jails or the legislature.

According to a Sun-Times series last summer based on a survey of 6th, 7th and 8th graders, three-quarters of them say they heard gunshots in their neighborhood.

Half of them know someone who had been shot at.

A third of them knew someone who had been killed by a gun.

Violence has become commonplace in their lives.

So for me – today is not a day of joy – it is not a day of celebration – it is not a day for any of us to feel good.

And so – while I am deeply honored to be here – and even more honored to serve on the board of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence -- I cannot accept your award.

I don’t feel I have earned it. I don’t feel any of us have earned it.

Instead I would ask us all to remember the horror and tragedy of children who live with death every day.

I would ask us all to renew our commitment to reducing gun violence.

No one works harder than the Illinois Council on Handgun Violence. No one is doing more to raise awareness.

And each of you here today are supporting that effort.

I thank you – not just on behalf of this organization but on behalf of children and families across Chicago.

I won’t accept this award today but I will accept your hand in partnership – and your commitment to keep on fighting to end gun violence.

We’ll keep fighting the NRA, the gun makers, the gun dealers, the gang bangers and everyone else who refuses to accept the undeniable fact that guns and kids don’t mix.

We’ll fight them in Springfield – in the courts – in the community – and even in the home.

We’ll fight for as long as it takes and when that fight is over – I will gladly accept this award. I will display it with pride.

But not today – not yet.

For now, the fight continues.

Thank you.