TexasCHLforum.com

Isn't this special. Seems like everyone in the article is trying to out do each other on their anti-2A statements.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi- ... 2439.story

Rev. Jackson opposes plan to arm officers with combat rifles

By SOPHIA TAREEN
Associated Press Writer
8:27 PM CDT, May 17, 2008
CHICAGO

Renewing a call to ban assault weapons nationwide, the Rev. Jesse Jackson objected Saturday to the Chicago Police Department's plan to arm officers with combat rifles.

"These weapons, they're only used to kill people," Jackson said in an interview with The Associated Press.

Jackson, a longtime advocate for gun control, said giving officers M4 carbines will "intensify violence" and create more tension between citizens and law enforcement officers.

Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis recently announced that approximately 13,000 police officers be equipped and trained to use M4 carbines, a short assault rifle used by Chicago police SWAT team members.

Weis has said the weapons will help ensure officers can better match the fire power of street gangs.

But Jackson said Chicago residents, particularly youth, need more "summer jobs, summer school and summer recreation" instead of guns.

"I can understand police feel outgunned and out armed by gangs, but that is why we need a ban on assault weapons," he said. "The killings coming from these weapons happen to be Northern Illinois University, Columbine and Virginia Tech."

Jackson, founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, called for stricter background checks and restricting gun manufacturers, among other things. He said he planned to continue meeting with city officials to lobby his cause.

Chicago police defended the plan to arm officers with semiautomatic assault rifles.

"Banning assault weapons is common sense gun legislation that we support," said Chicago police spokeswoman Monique Bond in a statement sent to The Associated Press. "But we must also ensure that our police officers are safe, because when they are safe, the communities they protect are even safer."

While Chicago ended 2007 with the lowest number of homicides in 40 years, the past months have shown a spike in shooting deaths and violence, including a weekend in April when 36 people were shot.

The city recorded 134 homicides January through April, a 9 percent jump compared to 2007, when 123 homicides were recorded in those same months. Overall, violent crime also saw an uptick. It was up 6.1 percent during the first four months of the year compared to the same time period in 2007.

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley, a longtime advocate of gun control, has supported the department's plan to arm officers with combat rifles.