Jesse Jackson Backs Illinois, Federal Weapons Bans: Rev. Jesse Jackson is urging lawmakers to ban semi-automatic weapons. His call to action came during the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition's annual conference in Chicago. And as CBS 2's Katie McCall reports, it also comes after the violent deaths of two more Chicago teens. Jackson is declaring a state of emergency in Chicago and asking state and federal lawmakers to ban assault weapons. http://cbs2chicago.com/local/local_story_156190928.html --- Will Massachusetts Treat Gun Owners Like Sex Offenders? The latest strategy in the national war against illegal guns includes a "track and map" system to trace gun ownership, and the movement includes a local campaign in Worcester with a community group's own tracing proposals... http://www.goal.org/news/trackinggunowners.htm --- North Carolina Rejects Stolen-Gun-Report Mandate: Two area lawmakers helped shoot down legislation that would have penalized gun owners for failing to report a lost or stolen firearm within 48 hours. Reps. Bill Owens, D-Pasquotank, and Tim Spear, D-Washington, voted against House Bill 1847, which failed by a 41-77 vote... http://www.dailyadvance.com/news/content/news/stories/2007/06/05/0605GunLegislationRM.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=7 --- BATFE Continues Scrutiny Of Idaho Gun Shop: ...The ATF had revoked Red's license March 5 after audits turned up numerous violations. A federal judge found some of those findings were exaggerated and granted Red's a temporary reprieve until he delivers his final ruling. With its most recent scan on May 23, the ATF managed to stick Red's with three new violations that auditors in the past either overlooked or condoned... http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2007/06/05/news/local_state/113584.txt --- Oops!: An Army recruiter in Florida appears to have shot himself in the chest while reaching into a canvas bag, where he kept his Ruger pistol. (A handgun which is kept loaded really ought to be in a holster or similar device that covers the trigger guard.) http://www.sptimes.com/2007/06/05/Northpinellas/Army_recruiter_shot_w.shtml --- Rule Five Reminder: An Ohio man has accepted a plea deal in connection with the theft of a Sheriff's sergeant's handgun from an unmarked cruiser. "A policy change is being drafted that will put more responsibility on officers to maintain better control over their issued property," Sheriff Larry Mincks said. "The current policy was vague and didn't prohibit the storage of guns in vehicles. In some instances, this one will." (Rule Five: Maintain control of your firearm.) http://www.mariettatimes.com/news/story/new32_65200781450.asp --- When Guns Are Outlawed...: Commentary from Canada emphasizes that restrictions on firearm ownership rarely keep guns out of the hands of criminals. "Is there a kind of gun law that could reduce violent crime? Yes, a complete ban on the possession of all firearms, coupled with draconian penalties. Such laws existed in most totalitarian countries, and they worked. There was almost no gunplay in the streets. In those societies, no one had to worry about his safety - until he saw a policeman." http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/issuesideas/story.html?id=873a481a-e51c-4e5d-9ba6-c1ac59c666aa -- Stephen P. Wenger Firearm safety - It's a matter for education, not legislation. http://www.spw-duf.info