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Obama addresses Chicago gun crime

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    President takes on skyrocketing murder epidemic in his hometown

  • Duration 5:04
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In a factor follow up segment tonight.

As we've been reporting the city of Chicago has seen its murder rate explode in recent years President Obama has been outspoken about the massacres in Tucson -- Rorer and Newtown.

But it wasn't until today.

That he really address the situation.

In his hometown.

Last year there were 443.

Murders.

With a firearm.

On the streets.

Of this city.

And 65 of those victims were eighteen and under.

So that's the equivalent of a new town every four months for a lot of it.

Young boys and young man in particular they don't -- example of fathers or grandfathers.

Uncles.

Who are positions.

Support families.

And be held up.

And respect.

And so that means that this is not just.

-- -- -- It's also an issue of the kinds of communities -- building.

Joining us now from Albany, New York reverend doctor -- Fox News contributor and from Chicago radio talk show host Matt McGill.

Matt let me begin with you how is the president being received in Chicago finally making remarks about the murder situation there.

Well -- he's being received warmly people.

Have been calling for the president to come to Chicago for quite awhile I don't think that it's -- -- but necessary.

A lot of people in the community want to hear from somebody who is the president United States and from their hometown.

But as the president stated and I was glad he said it this is more than a gun issue this is more than an issue about government and what government can do for the community.

This is about what the community has to do for itself first and foremost.

And if that message resonates.

With people not only as Chicago but in other cities across the country that are suffering from the same type of youth violence to Chicago is Dennis a strong message -- wanna make a difference -- you don't.

And I don't mankind's -- -- -- -- say hey man I met I think you're exactly right Jack so what took the president so long -- says he doesn't think it took so I think it took way too long.

The president in his hometown to connect the dots and say what you have.

Family breakdown as we see in the black community when you have 70% of black children born out of wedlock when you see an absence of -- he spoke about.

-- fatherhood in our community in the black community when he gave the stadium we didn't connect it to the gun issue.

In my mind it's taken too long -- why it's so law.

Well you know -- -- I'm glad that he's here.

I'm glad that he connected but -- -- -- that -- has said it's really more amenable gun issue -- and and I think that he's been.

Been addressing it in a variety of ways it's time for him to go home he came home.

And no president in the United States is ever stood before the American.

I had a fun.

I mean that's a riveting moment one and -- being a seminal moment.

In this discussion about the family and that's what I really think is is the logic issue and how do we put our families back together how do we provide hope.

-- -- he's not only Chicago but across the country well.

-- -- Well that's right but I mean the thing is you got to speak to the issue about some of the problems that.

Lee young men to think that you know it's -- to issue an idea Pendleton -- little girl in a playground but but I think the problem and the lack of fathers and the lack of structure and our community got to speak to what -- what I'm saying.

And that's why I think it was.

Well if they want.

I'm not -- -- it was time but but one did other things that he's been doing every day he shows up to work.

And carries himself in the way he carried himself and role models from the day he has been president.

The way he loves his family -- in the village when he's a great dividend.

Didn't stop when -- and doing.

-- -- -- Janet hasn't stopped this -- murder rate in Chicago and Matt let me come back to you several Chicago public but no I understand -- Jack let me -- the mat on this match.

The president talks about doing away with assault rifles most of these shootings including -- -- -- thing happen with a handgun.

So why -- media what what is going to make it doesn't seem to be that his prescriptions when it comes the gun control are gonna do anything to stop the murders in Chicago.

Original one guns -- just a small part of it and I'm glad he cannot outlined that.

We need to get people in the community to realize it is about families we talked about not having a father that is the most important thing and our community want.

Single parenthood has been killing African American community for years man unless we address that addressed that head on we're gonna be -- we're going to be -- government to come in.

I'm going we will obviously -- gay men out amen I wrote a book about it enough I'm telling you but I'm so glad that the two of you.

Are standing up because I think the president should have stood up more clearly for a long time and said we gotta do something about the problem in our community.

Gentlemen thank you so much I really appreciate -- -- in the truth.

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