Rev. Jackson wants assault rifle ban

CHICAGO, May 17 (UPI) -- The Rev. Jesse Jackson said Saturday arming Chicago police with semiautomatic rifles increases the need to ban assault weapons.

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.