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Subscribe to RSSReturning to his hometown of Chicago, President Obama touched on issues he address during his State of the Union: Increasing gun violence, Strengthening gun laws, and improving the economy. Watch the entire speech.
President Barack Obama took his push for stricter gun laws to his adoptive hometown of Chicago, as that city endures an epidemic of high-profile shooting deaths.
Speaking near his family home on the south side of Chicago, the president renewed his call for Congress to allow for a vote on his various gun measures. And Obama pointed to recent incidences of violence, including the murder of Hadiya Pendleton, the Chicago teenager who was gunned down shortly after performing with classmates in Obama’s second inaugural parade.
“This week, in my State of the Union, I talked about Hadiya and the fact that, unfortunately, what happened to Hadiya is not unique,” Obama said, noting that Pendelton’s parents were in attendance at his speech. “It's not unique to Chicago."
The president’s adoptive hometown, though, has suffered from an epidemic of gun violence. The city suffered over 500 homicides in 2012, including a record number of gun deaths for victims under the age of 18.
“That's the equivalent of a Newtown every four months,” Obama said, referencing the deadly shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut in December, which left 26 students and teachers dead, and provided the impetus for the administration’s new push for comprehensive legislation to curb gun violence.
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Conservatives, though, have also helped popularize Chicago as a prime example as to why the president’s gun proposals are ineffective.
"When President Obama visits Friday, let’s hope we hear something more thoughtful than the usual rhetoric about expanding background checks, to which gangs never submit, and banning some weapons which they rarely use," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., wrote Thursday in the Chicago Tribune.
“Honesty about what it will really take to face gang violence is the best tribute he can offer to Hadiya Pendleton and the dozens of other children killed in Chicago each year,” Gingrich added in his op-ed, referring to the Pendleton’s parents attended Friday’s speech at Hyde Park Academy.
Obama used his speech at the academy to also talk up elements of his education reforms proposed in the State of the Union address earlier this week, including expanded access to Pre-K education and better federal support for schools and standards. The president also talked up his proposal to raise the minimum wage to $9.00/hour, though such a proposal has already encountered resistance from Republicans on Capitol Hill.
This story was originally published on Fri Feb 15, 2013 4:51 PM EST
Leave a Comment:
salsa..
How many laws did Adam Lanza break that horrible day? Are you arguing that a few more would have prevented the tragedy?
SeekingSanity,
Keep looking because you haven't found it yet.
Guns have been ubiquitous here in America for centuries and people knew how to act. It's our present, narcissistic, sick selfish culture that is the problem, not the guns.
Americans will never disarm so you liberals better get over it. This is no ordinary issue like Obamacare or immigration. Americans will not disarm.
Yes, let's use Chicago as a test bed. If it 'works' in Chicago, then he can implement it everywhere. Still waiting for the results to come out of Chicago, but let's give it a few years and see if the results are positive due to gun control.
Coming soon is the inevitable end of the Republican Party and its cohorts, the Tea Party and Right Wing base. GOP = Grim Ornery Pricks = Grimy Old Politicians = Gross Old Partisans = Groping Oily Palms, etc, etc. Whatever their true title - they are history. They have already destroyed millions of families and businesses, created world chaos and destroyed our reputation abroad. Revolt against these antiquated slobs and the Right Wing "Puritanical" Tea Party and their supporters. Prosecute their corruption; their treason and honor and protect our Constitution. Honor "Separation of Church and State" - there will be no "Christian Fundamentalist" government in America. These Fundamentalist want to use tax dollars to fund "Christian" schools, forcing the decay of publican education, hence, forcing public schools to completely crumble, forcing ordinary kids to either go without any education or attend "Religious" schools and "Religious teachings" like "Creationism" and the "Bible". Time the launch a revolution against Republicanism and "Religionism" - both are political, religious, moral and patriotic frauds. I welcome the demise of both and their political and religious narcissism! They have inflicted enough damage on the United States of America - and the world.
How dare they stand for requiring our govt to follow the Constitution
How dare they stand for insisting on govt being fiscally responsible
How dare they stand for the principles of liberty the founders sought to give us in a limited govt that doesn't steal from those who produce
How dare they stand against the Democrats and their worship of Marx and ideology of "from each according to their ability, to each according to their need"
Yes, how dare these people prefer liberty over collectivist enslavement to the state!
Larry
No one is violating the constitution. But if making up a story that you decide is true just so you can keep your mad on ..... go for it. Seems a bonehead form of entertainment to me.
Our govt hasn't followed the constitution for 100 years. We have post constitutional marxist totalitarian govt.
There is NOTHING entertaining about surrendering our freedom.
That picture must be of someone else, Larry ..... the hat does not appear to be made of tin foil.
Any other comments or post on this subject should immediately refer back to post#1.
End of story.
97% of gun violence is perpetrated using handguns. Why not try to restrict them instead of rifles?
Because they don't look scary enough.
That would be racist, because most gang bangers have handguns, not rifles.
Mr. President. Just get all those Chicago gang bangers into a stadium and give them your speech. I'm confident they'll turn in their guns, and the problem will go away.
Super strict gun regulations and tons of murders......the irony.
The gang bangers generally eliminated each other. Family members do each other in, the concern is for the person with a grudge against another person and decides to eliminate them wiith a weapon that spews multiple bullets and hits innocent people.
The only thing that is worth repeating from the S U was the $9. min wage it really should be $10. so everybody can get off the ObumbO's santa claus list. Everything else was BS that the 47% eat up.
I just want the gangstas and g*ngbangers to murder each other and stay in their ghetto. If parents care about their kids, they'll do anything to move them out of that ghetto.
Your voice is not a representative American voice. I want to be part of an America that works on repairing its problems, with or without your help.
Oh Ya voice of Azzwipes you Racist Dip Sh!t Knob all gun violence happens in the ghetto. Ever hear of New Town or Aurora JacKAzz?!?!
John-3781521
Patriots' common law right of self-defense. Yet in practice, that is precisely what Obama with those who support him are attempting.
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Oh John giive up the 2nd amendment speech all you Wayne LaPierre wanna be's launch into anytime anyone even mention proper gun control! Which WE ALL KNOW is needed! Geesh grow Up already!
John-3781521
Sheriffs’ Response to NY SAFE Act
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Better known as a JackAzz's response to reality
John-3781521
Surge of sheriff groups opposed to Obama gun control rises to 11
In less than four weeks since President Obama proposed sweeping new gun control laws
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Ya and over a THOUSAND NEW GUN DEATHS SINCE!! I repeat, Grow Up knob!!
Anyone who opposes universal background checks for gun ownership is helping criminals own guns.
John-3781521
Gun Companies to Law Enforcement in Anti-Gun States: We’re Not Doing Business With You Anymore
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Hahaha What a Joke you are Jonny boy!! Like business's are REALLY SUFFERING because jackazz's like you can't have MORE GUNS! You dumb Azz wad!
John-3781521 - aka John the Joke is making things up now folks to support More Guns!
Here's one for ya Johnny the Joke!!
NRA spits on the graves of Newtown massacre victims
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/nra-spits-graves-new-shoot-em-up-app-article-1.1240207#ixzz2L6c2vQyV
Here's one for ya Johnny the Joke!!
NRA spits on the graves of Newtown massacre victims
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/nra-spits-graves-new-shoot-em-up-app-article-1.1240207#ixzz2L6c2vQyV
John-3781521 - aka John the Joke is making things up now folks to support More Guns!
AND ANOTHER HEADLINE FOR JONNY THE JOKE who wants MORE GUNS!!
Aurora massacre: Survivors still struggling 1 month later
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-08-19/aurora-colorado-theater-shooting-one-month/57143164/1
Obama's going golfing again righties! That's right my little dumdum friends and he's going with Tiger Woods' ex-coach...
Oh look Johnny your girlfriend leroy is here to play with you !!!
Johnny I'd love to stay and play but I have something REALLY important to do other than to sit here and try to educate a DumbAzz like you .... I've gotta get up and scrath my AZZ BUT I'll be thinking of you JOHNNY the JOKE! Hahahahaha !
Johnny I'd love to stay and play but I have something REALLY important to do other than to sit here and try to educate a DumbAzz like you .... I've gotta get up and scrath my AZZ BUT I'll be thinking of you JOHNNY the JOKE! Hahahahaha !