Gun violence issue pervades Chicago politics

>>> of guns in america i'm joined by msnbc contributor goldie taylor. let's start in the windy city . what the heck is happening in chicago ?

>> well, you know, there are a plethora of issues happening in chicago . i was struck with how much that young woman looks like my youngest daughter, and but for the grace of god there go i. what's happening in chicago are any number of things, pervasive poverty and lack to opportunity. one of my dear friends said nothing stops a bullet like a job so we're talking about a crisis from top to bottom throughout these communities in and surrounding chicago .

>> we found out this morning that there's a democratic primary race under way in chicago right now for the seat formerly held by jesse jackson . one of the candidates running for that seat dropped out of the race after new york city mayor michael bloomberg got involved in the campaign. bloomberg's pac got another money behind another candidate robbie kelly. hutchinson had support from the nra . how significant, is it, do you think for the mayor of new york city to get involved in a race in chicago , illinois? what does that tell us?

>> it's extraordinarily significant but i have to say it's about time. if you've got millions of dollars flowing through washington and municipalities throughout the country from the nra , the pro- gun control hobby has been hobbled a number of years. great advocacy organizations but the dollars just don't match up, so it's a good thing, i think, to point out record of some of these candidates in this case. the difficulty here is, you know, this race is so crowded, so crowded. that david halverson who has a 100% rating by this nra , she could run away with this race because there are too many candidates in this race.

>> you're a former marine and very familiar with the gun lobe. we've talked about it on this broadcast before. you just mentioned the nra . i've got to ask you. do you think that organization is becoming something like a scarlet letter of sports for political candidates who have a pro-gun record, even democrats?

>> i think the tide is certainly changing and i'm glad that it is. i believe today's nra was different from the organization and the mission that was founded. i believe they have veered so far to the right that they have forgotten the real impact of what is the most dangerous consumer product on the market.

>> i want to talk to you about this assault weapons ban for just a second, and i want to put a picture on the screen here because congress again considering new gun legislation would ban 150 kind of firearms and would protect more than 2,000. here's an example of a weapon that would be banned. i want our viewers and you take a look at this. this is a ruegger mini-14 with collapsible and soeld fofolding stock. however, the same gun with a fixed stock would be legal even though they fire the same caliber bullets and can hold dozens of rounds of ammunition. how logical does it seem to you?

>> if it does not impact functionality i don't think that there's a difference between the guns. if it fires the same, if it fires the same calibers in the same rapid speed and frequency then certainly it ought to be treated as the same class of weapon and band just as the other.

>> how do you think this thing is going to play out, i mean, politically speaking? what do you think will happen once a vote is taken because a lot of folks believe at some point, some juncture there will be a vote on something, whether it's weapons ban, background checks , but how do you think it's going to play out?

>> i was hoping that we would be in for big things , that this would be comprehensive reform, meaningful reform. what we have is a small ball. a consensus saying you need universal background checks , assault weapon ban or a high capacity magazine would be banned, i don't know that this is going to pass this u.s. house of representatives , and that is reprehensible.

>> goldie taylor, thank you so much. usually have to talk to you in double boxes so good to have you in the flesh.

>> thanks for having me.

>> you're always welcome.