"Due to the recent death of 15-year-old Hadiya Pendleton, and the hundreds of Chicago gun violence victims over the past year, Obama felt that it was essential to visit his hometown and speak on the central issue.
Pendleton, a Chicago honors student, was shot and killed on Jan. 29 near the Chicago home of President Obama after she and friends were allegedly mistaken for gang members.
He suggested that a great amount of gun violence stems from communities that are filled with poverty and little opportunities. Therefore, he believes that it is important to have “strong, stable families” and “loving, supportive parents” in order to reduce violence. Since many young people join gangs in order to feel like they are a part of a family, it makes sense that if more teens had strong, compassionate families, few would feel the need to join gangs or associate themselves with bad behavior.

Many were surprised that the president encouraged marriage and fatherhood instead of mainly discussing what Congress could do to solve gun violence.

The president spoke wisely at the high school Friday, seeing that no one truly knows if laws will be passed to tighten gun legislation. His speech encouraged the idea that everyday citizens can help change the world as well.

Having a father figure in the house may not stop a teenager from being curious about guns and other violent weapons. Nonetheless, if a child knows that they have a close family to depend on and they don’t have to fight for their lives every day in the street alone, they may be less likely to get involved in violence.

Although Obama supposes that ending violence begins in the home, he also acknowledges the difficulty of getting gun law legislation passed at a state level and explained the importance of having the voices of the victims’ families heard in Congress."
http://www.videtteonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38086:obama-family-is-the-answer-to-gun-violence&catid=44:viewpointeditorials&Itemid=56

The President is correct. Ending violence in our country begins in the home. But Government shares that roll. It must pass meaningful legislation to help families rather than allow a broken Family Court system to exacerbate the problem of broken homes.
There are millions of Fathers that are being alienated from their children by Family Courts.
50,000 men set in prison for nothing more than being unable to meet child support obligations that were based on income they no longer have. These Courts refuse to modify support to reflect our new economic reality.
Support is based on what could be earned rather than the reality of a bad economy and poor job market.
Children need both parents for guidance.
Many children are the victims of 'Parental Alienation Syndrome'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parental_alienation_syndrome

Until President Obama and our Congress see that our Family Court System is at the root of many family problems, they will continue to treat the symptoms rather than the cause. Strong parenting and involvement with children allows children with two parents to see alternatives to violence and gang membership.
We need to fix the Family Court System now.
Fathers need civil rights too.
Fathers and Families
"Fathers and Families® improves the lives of children and strengthens society by protecting the child’s right to the love and care of both parents after separation or divorce. We seek better lives for children through family court reform that establishes equal rights and responsibilities for fathers and mothers. "
http://www.fathersandfamilies.org/