Officials talk guns, hold buybacks after shootings

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ARIZONA — Giffords and her husband on Tuesday launched a political action committee aimed at curbing gun violence, while two politicians on opposite ends of the gun debate held dueling weapons buybacks outside a Tucson police station.

In Maricopa County, Sheriff Joe Arpaio has said he plans to post armed volunteers on school perimeters to protect Phoenix-area students.

His plan, announced last month, came after two other Arizona officials released ideas for boosting school security: Attorney General Tom Horne proposed firearms training for one person in each school, and Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu proposed training multiple educators per school to carry guns.

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NEW YORK — Gov. Andrew Cuomo says he will make gun control a major part of his State of the State address on Wednesday, in which he will set his 2013 legislative agenda. He insists on a new ban on assault rifles, which he said must close loopholes in state law, and a ban on high-capacity clips for ammunition.

Tense, closed-door talks among legislative leaders continue. Republicans also seek to crack down on illegal guns and want longer court-ordered mental health treatment for individuals who won't seek help, but are deemed to be a safety threat.

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ILLINOIS — The state's attorney general on Tuesday asked a federal appeals court to review a lawsuit challenging the state's ban on concealed carry in an effort to salvage the only law in the nation that makes the practice entirely illegal.

Last month, a three-judge panel of the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the Illinois ban as unconstitutional and gave lawmakers 180 days to write a law legalizing it. Attorney General Lisa Madigan is asking that all 10 judges on the court rehear the case.

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CONNECTICUT — U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal announced Tuesday he plans to introduce federal legislation that would require instant background checks for purchasers of ammunition.

It is now illegal to sell firearms and ammunition to certain groups, including felons and the mentally ill. But background checks, Blumenthal said, are required only for the sale of firearms, not the bullets.

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WASHINGTON — Seattle police and political leaders on Tuesday announced a new gun buyback program in which people can anonymously turn in their weapons for a shopping gift card worth up to $200.

Amazon.com, which has been expanding its Seattle headquarters, kicked in $30,000 in Amazon gift cards for the program — $100 for each handgun, rifle or shotgun turned in, and $200 for each gun classified as an assault weapon under state law.