AP Photo/Keith Srakocic For better or worse, criminals are going to get guns. They’re going to get them and they’re going to use them with evil intent. We don’t have to like it. In fact, we shouldn’t like it, nor do we. Yet it’s still a fact of life. Over the last year, local officials all over the country are doing whatever they can to try and address the exploding violent crime rate. After a spate of recent shootings, the Saginaw Police Department is again beseeching residents to put their guns down. “We are again asking our community to stand with us — to put the guns down and end the violence,” said Saginaw Police Chief Robert M. Ruth. He added gun violence has been especially prominent of late amongst teens.