CHICAGO – The Rev. Jesse Jackson advocated anti-violence and gun control Tuesday during his traditional Christmas Day sermon at a Chicago jail, where he challenged inmates to help get weapons off the streets.

Jackson has long been a supporter of gun control, including an assault weapons ban. He called the deadly Dec. 14 shootings at a Connecticut elementary school a tipping point for the nation when it comes to gun control.

“We’ve all been grieving about the violence in Newtown, Connecticut, the last few days,” he told reporters after addressing inmates at the Cook County Jail. “Most of those here today ... have either shot somebody or been shot. We’re recruiting them to help us stop the flow of guns ... We need their awareness of the dangers of more guns and more drugs.”