ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Crime, and what to do about it, was the hot topic at Monday night's 25th Congressional District debate.

Democrat and incumbent Joe Morelle faced his Republican challenger, La'Ron Singletary, in a debate on News 8 WROC.

Morelle is currently a two-term congressman after serving years in the New York State Assembly representing the 136th Assembly district. Singletary is the former Rochester police chief. The two sparred over Rochester's continued crime.

"We are the second worst congressional district to live in for African Americans," said Singletary. "Joe Morelle has been silent on the issue of crime. He wanted to defund the police. We have 80 homicides last year, over 400-plus people shot. Sixty-four homicides this year with 300-plus people shot. Joe Morelle's voice has been silent on this issue."

"I've listened now to Mr. Singletary; he's been running full time now for a year for Congress," said Morelle. "And yet I have not heard a single solitary thing he intends to do about these issues. He's not for doing anything as it relates to illegal guns on our streets. We have 400 million guns in the United States ... 400 million. We don't have that many men, women and children."

Abortion was also brought up during the debate. Singletary said he would not vote to ban abortion on a federal level. Morelle said he believes the decision should be made by women and not the government.