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| No let up in Chicago gun violence despite Obama's hometown plea | No let up in Chicago gun violence despite Obama's hometown plea |
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| America's ongoing struggle with gun violence was highlighted on Saturday as it was revealed that at least four people had been wounded in shootings in Chicago within hours of President Barack Obama making a major speech in the city. | America's ongoing struggle with gun violence was highlighted on Saturday as it was revealed that at least four people had been wounded in shootings in Chicago within hours of President Barack Obama making a major speech in the city. |
| The president is spearheading a push to curb the US's high rate of gun violence, vowing to bring more regulations of certain types of firearms in the wake of the Newtown school massacre at the end of last year. However, he has faced stiff opposition from the powerful National Rifle Association, conservative gun-owners and many Republican politicians, who say he plans to attack the country's constitutional right to bear arms. | The president is spearheading a push to curb the US's high rate of gun violence, vowing to bring more regulations of certain types of firearms in the wake of the Newtown school massacre at the end of last year. However, he has faced stiff opposition from the powerful National Rifle Association, conservative gun-owners and many Republican politicians, who say he plans to attack the country's constitutional right to bear arms. |
| In Chicago on Friday, Obama gave a high-profile speech as part of his campaigning efforts to win support for new legislation. The president's home town has seen soaring rates of gun violence and murder in recent months. The recent shooting death of Hadiya Pendleton, a schoolgirl who had been part of the celebrations for Obama's second inauguration, has further drawn attention to the battle city authorities have in confronting violent crime. | In Chicago on Friday, Obama gave a high-profile speech as part of his campaigning efforts to win support for new legislation. The president's home town has seen soaring rates of gun violence and murder in recent months. The recent shooting death of Hadiya Pendleton, a schoolgirl who had been part of the celebrations for Obama's second inauguration, has further drawn attention to the battle city authorities have in confronting violent crime. |
| "Last year, there were 443 murders with a firearm in this city, and 65 of them were 18 and under. That's the equivalent of a Newtown every four months," Obama said in the speech. "That's precisely why the overwhelming majority of Americans are asking for some common sense proposals to make it harder for criminals to get their hands on a gun." | "Last year, there were 443 murders with a firearm in this city, and 65 of them were 18 and under. That's the equivalent of a Newtown every four months," Obama said in the speech. "That's precisely why the overwhelming majority of Americans are asking for some common sense proposals to make it harder for criminals to get their hands on a gun." |
| Local media quickly reported that Obama's plane had barely taken off from the city before police were being forced to respond shooting incidents. The Chicago Tribune said one woman died from gunshot wounds sustained at around 7pm; two men were shot and wounded around 7.20pm in another area and a third man was shot in the leg around 5.55pm, as he was sitting in his car. The violence continued on Saturday – at 3am, a fifth victim was shot in the arm at a party. | Local media quickly reported that Obama's plane had barely taken off from the city before police were being forced to respond shooting incidents. The Chicago Tribune said one woman died from gunshot wounds sustained at around 7pm; two men were shot and wounded around 7.20pm in another area and a third man was shot in the leg around 5.55pm, as he was sitting in his car. The violence continued on Saturday – at 3am, a fifth victim was shot in the arm at a party. |
| Chicago, and in particular its troubled South Side, is caught in a bout of extreme violence often linked to gang warfare and the drugs trade. In the city as a whole there were more than 500 murders in 2012 and the rate does not seen to have slowed down in 2013. In January there were 43 deaths – the majority involved guns. | Chicago, and in particular its troubled South Side, is caught in a bout of extreme violence often linked to gang warfare and the drugs trade. In the city as a whole there were more than 500 murders in 2012 and the rate does not seen to have slowed down in 2013. In January there were 43 deaths – the majority involved guns. |
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