By Gerard Valentino

CBS 2 in Chicago is reporting that Mayor Daley announced a continuation of his failed gun "buy-back" program. According to the story, if a resident turns in an "assault-type gun" they get a $100 gift card from the City.

Data released by the FBI's National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) reported 966,162 checks in July 2009, an 8.4 percent increase from the 891,224 reported in July 2008.

This latest jump in background checks follows the release of the Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax Collection Report by the Department of the Treasury just two weeks ago.

The report noted that firearm and ammunition manufacturers paid more than $109.8 million in the first calendar quarter of 2009, up 43 percent over the same period in 2008.