Obama to push for prison reform, gun control in Chicago
- 9 years ago
Seeking to build support for a bipartisan criminal justice overhaul, President Obama will speak to a group of police chiefs on Tuesday in his hometown of Chicago.
But Obama also plans to wade into the politically divisive issue of gun control during his speech to the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
"He will continue to push for criminal justice reforms that will make the system smarter, more effective, and more fair, while addressing the need for commonsense gun safety reforms," a White House official said in a statement.
Obama is seeking to capitalize on bipartisan momentum behind reducing the nation's large prison population, which could hand him a major legislative victory during his final 15 months in office.
The president and Democrats argue mass incarceration has ripped apart families across the country, especially in communities of color. Republicans have emphasized the high cost of imprisoning nonviolent drug offenders.
But Obama also plans to wade into the politically divisive issue of gun control during his speech to the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
"He will continue to push for criminal justice reforms that will make the system smarter, more effective, and more fair, while addressing the need for commonsense gun safety reforms," a White House official said in a statement.
Obama is seeking to capitalize on bipartisan momentum behind reducing the nation's large prison population, which could hand him a major legislative victory during his final 15 months in office.
The president and Democrats argue mass incarceration has ripped apart families across the country, especially in communities of color. Republicans have emphasized the high cost of imprisoning nonviolent drug offenders.