Rev. Jackson opposes plan to arm officers with combat rifles

[Lodge2004]

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.

[DoubleJ]

if they ban AR15's, shoudln't the cops not be allowed to own them, either??

[Tactical_Texan_CHL]

Um. Didn't 2 of those 3 occur with handguns?

[DParker]

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...

"Rev."

... opposes plan to arm officers with combat rifles

I might oppose that too, if anyone had proposed it. Fortunately, AR-15s aren't "combat rifles" any more than a Glock is a "combat pistol".

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.

See above.

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

And exactly what does he think every other firearm carried by just about every police force in the world is used for?

Jackson, a longtime advocate for gun control, said giving officers M4 carbines will "intensify violence"...

Well, he does have a point. If a criminal is stupid enough to charge at a LEO who is currently pointing an AR-15 at him the resulting violence is likely to be quite intense...at least from the perp's perspective.

...and create more tension between citizens and law enforcement officers.

Because....?

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.

"Short", yes. "Assault rifle"? No.

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

And we can't have that, now can we?

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

Someone is proposing equipping Chicago youth with 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."

Kids owning and carrying "assault weapons" is currently legal in Chicago?

Jackson, founder of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, called for stricter background checks...

Stricter than what?

...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.

"semiautomatic assault rifle" = oxymoron.

"Banning assault weapons is common sense gun legislation that we support," said Chicago police spokeswoman Monique Bond...

I agree. Ban sticks and stones...both commonly used as weapons in assaults.

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.

Again...what are these "combat rifles" they're talking about? Is someone getting M-16s?

[Venus Pax]

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

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

What does he propose they do with the ones that don't want those "summer jobs, summer school and summer recreation"?

[Venus Pax]

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

"I can understand police feel outgunned and out armed by gangs, but that is why we need a ban on assault weapons," he said.

Still trying to wrap my brain around this one.

[anygunanywhere]

Sounds to me as if Jesse is wanting more reasonable restrictions and common sense gun laws. All rights have limitations. Prior restraint is necessary to keep people safe. It is for the children.

What is the problem?



Just stirrin' the pot.

Anygunanywhere

[boomerang]

if they ban AR15's, shoudln't the cops not be allowed to own them, either??

Same with handguns. If guns cause crime, disarming cops will reduce the number of guns and therefore reduce crime.

[Oldgringo]

I think the Good Rev doesn't want the Anglo-Americans to be able to defend themselves in the face of an African-American uprising.

No offense intended to either group.

[pedalman]

Professional rabble-rousers (e.g. Jesse Jackson) tend to really annoy me.

The only thing that annoys me more are the people who buy into their garbage.

[dustyb]

It doesn't matter the topic, the Rev. is always against "the Man". Being against "the Man" has made him very wealthy.

[anygunanywhere]

It doesn't matter the topic, the Rev. is always against "the Man". Being against "the Man" has made him very wealthy.

Actually, extortion against "The Man" has made him wealthy.

Anygunanywhere

[dustyb]

It is amazing how a little money can cool his activist fervor.

[WildBill]

Professional rabble-rousers (e.g. Jesse Jackson) tend to really annoy me. The only thing that annoys me more are the people who buy into their garbage.

The only thing that annoys me more than the people who buy into their garbage are the people who give him the publicity! Who really cares what he says or thinks????

[srothstein]

... opposes plan to arm officers with combat rifles

I might oppose that too, if anyone had proposed it. Fortunately, AR-15s aren't "combat rifles" any more than a Glock is a "combat pistol".

Just wanted to point out that you may be restricted to semi-auto in an AR-15, but the City of Chicago can legally buy the brand new M-4 in full auto. It might very well be an assault weapon they are buying and issuing.

As a general rule, the cops get semi-auto too, but it is not necessarily that way. I am sure the SWAT team uses full auto.