Gun activists don yellow stars

EDMONTON, Canada, Sept. 27 (JTA) — Canadian Jewish officials are outraged that demonstrators donned yellow Jewish stars last week to protest federal gun control legislation. Ron Sorokin, an official with the Jewish Federation of Edmonton and the Canadian Jewish Congress, characterized last week’s protest as a highly misguided public relations stunt that would probably backfire on the protesters. “The use of Holocaust imagery to further the cause of gun lobbyists is totally offensive,” Sorokin said. “These people should be ashamed of themselves.” The Canadian Jewish Congress has come out in favor of the legislation, which would strengthen gun control measures and mandate the registration of firearms. “Gun control takes on added significance as white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups in Canada become increasingly well-armed with sophisticated weaponry,” the CJC said in a statement. The CJC also noted that “elements from violent racist groups have targeted the Canadian Armed Forces for infiltration to acquire military training and access to weapons.”