Chicago Mayor Relies on Massive Armed Security While Pushing Strict Gun Laws

Taxpayers foot the bill for 150 officers protecting the mayor, even as he backs policies restricting public's self-defense rights.

Apr. 11, 2026 at 12:41am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, abstract painting of a Chicago police officer's uniform and gear, with overlapping geometric shapes and brushstrokes in shades of blue, gray, and green, conveying a sense of tension and division around the issue of gun control.The mayor's armed security detail highlights the perceived double standard of gun control policies that restrict public self-defense while protecting those in power.Chicago Today

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has backed some of Illinois' most restrictive firearm policies, including a ban on so-called 'assault-style weapons' and magazine restrictions. However, reports reveal that Johnson's personal armed security detail includes as many as 150 Chicago Police Department officers at a cost to taxpayers of roughly $30 million a year.

Why it matters

This pattern of politicians in gun control strongholds enjoying armed personal protection while restricting the public's self-defense rights has become a growing point of contention. It highlights the perceived hypocrisy of officials who believe armed security is a necessity for those in power but a problem for everyone else. The Second Amendment was written for the people, not just for those in positions of authority.

The details

Reports show that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's personal armed security detail includes as many as 150 Chicago Police Department officers, costing taxpayers roughly $30 million a year. This comes as Johnson has backed some of Illinois' most restrictive firearm policies, including a ban on so-called 'assault-style weapons' and magazine restrictions. The mayor has praised these laws as an 'important step' to keep 'weapons of war' out of neighborhoods, even as he enjoys the protection of a large armed security force.

  • In 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reversed a lower court's preliminary injunction against Illinois' ban on so-called 'assault-style weapons' and magazine restrictions.
  • In 2021, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) spent nearly $137,000 on private armed security, despite his anti-police, anti-gun rhetoric.
  • In 2024, then-Vice President Kamala Harris' personal firearm ownership and round-the-clock protection stood in obvious tension with the strict gun control agenda she promoted.

The players

Brandon Johnson

The mayor of Chicago who has backed some of Illinois' most restrictive firearm policies while being protected by a large armed security detail.

Chicago Police Department

The police force providing the 150-officer security detail for Mayor Brandon Johnson at a cost of roughly $30 million a year to taxpayers.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Alright, look... I probably get forty or fifty threats every week...That just happens when you're the mayor of New York City, or very wealthy, or campaigning for the president of the United States. You're gonna get lots of threats.”

— Michael Bloomberg, Former New York City Mayor and gun control activist

What’s next

The ongoing debate over the mayor's armed security detail and the perceived double standard on gun control policies is likely to continue, with calls for greater transparency and accountability from both supporters and critics.

The takeaway

This case highlights the growing concerns over the perceived hypocrisy of politicians who demand armed protection for themselves while restricting the public's self-defense rights. It raises questions about the fairness and effectiveness of gun control policies that seem to benefit those in power while disadvantaging ordinary citizens.