The Rainbow PUSH Coalition president expressed his views about gun control during a news conference at the organization's Chicago headquarters.

The news conference came after it was publicized Friday that Chicago cops would be required to complete a physical fitness exam to carry M4 assault rifles.

"Police arming themselves with these weapons intensifies the need to revive a ban on assault weapon(s)," Jackson said.

Police Superintendent Judy Weis is aiming to have all 13,500 officers qualified to hold an M4 in an effort to fight gangsters, a Rainbow Push news release said.

"It puts America in a difficult position -- that police have to get semi-automatic weapons to not be 'out-gunned' by street gangs," Jackson added.