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This video was made by NBC News producers Dan Slepian and Rob Allen as a part of the "Voices From Within" Project. They produced this independently of NBC News on their own time. Slepian and Allen put convicted murderers at Sing Sing, the infamous prison just north of New York City, in a room alone with a camera and asked them to speak to their 12-year-old selves.

The question they wanted answered: What would you say now that could have made your younger self put down the gun that ended a life and landed you in prison? What you see below is the full version of that video, which is now being used by the New York Police Department.

After part of this piece aired on Meet the Press, there was strong reaction online:

Powerful segment from @meetthepress on gun violence from prisoners. Takes your breath away the impact on American society. — Elizabeth Rasberry (@erasberry1) June 21, 2015

@meetthepress Poor judgement on topics of discussion and imagery of blacks as purveyors of gun violence #pivot #Charleston #meetthepress — J. Daniels (@dynastycapital) June 21, 2015

Short segment on gun violence from the perspective of those in prison: incredibly powerful. Heartbreaking. @meetthepress — Serda (@SerdaTweets) June 21, 2015

@meetthepress why only show black jailed men showing shooting/gun violence repentance? You can't find a diversified jailed panel? Typical! — Marvin Webb (@marvinwebb) June 21, 2015

Chuck Todd responded to the strong reaction, which can be read here. Also, the panel addressed some of the criticism head-on later in the show: