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111. workers make solemn return by Martha Irvine Associated Press | mcLKUob rArlft, ; III.—Workers who j survived a shooting rampage returned to the Navistar engine plant I Tuesday and met with counselors, and au Baker tnorities investigated how the gunman — a convicted felon — got his weapons. Fired Navistar employee William D. Baker had four guns when he overpowered a security guard Monday, shot four people to death, wounded four others and then fatally shot himself. He was to have begun a federal prison term Tuesday for helping to steal engines and parts from the suburban Chicago plant, police said. Authorities said Baker had an AK-47 fully automatic assault rifle, a .30-caliber hunting rifle, a Remington 12-gauge pump shotgun and a .38 caliber revolver. Convicted felons are barred from owning guns, said Special Agent Thomas Ahem of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. If Baker had purchased the guns before his conviction, he would have been required to turn them in, Ahem said. Besides the theft case. Baker pleaded guilty in 1998 to a sex charge involving a family member under 17 and was placed on probation. Illinois State Police said he had been issued a new firearms owner identification card two weeks before he was convicted in the sex case. Asked about the shooting. White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said President Bush believes “one of the answers is tougher enforcement of the current laws” and also has proposed safety locks and raising the age at which youths can get handguns. “Unfortunately, too often with these laws, there are people who are going to break laws, and we cannot stop that in all cases,” Fleischer said. Among those who returned to the plant Tuesday was John Hanis, a 45-year employee who knew Baker and each of the victims. He came to the plant to see a counselor, then planned to go home. “This is something that’s almost unpreventable, something happening all Shooting seepages Special to The Gamecock Police cars block the entrance to Navistar in Melrose Park, IIU while firefighters, police officers and rescue personnel wait outside the rear door with an ambulance and stretchers. Sharon wins Israeli election! by Laura King Associated Press JERUSALEM— Ariel Sharon, the tough-talking former general dubbed “The Bulldozer,” lived up to his nickname Tuesday with a landslide victory over Ehud Barak, the prime minister whose peace hopes were dashed by some of the worst Israeli-Palestinian bloodletting in decades. “The State of Israel has entered a new path... the path of security and true peace,” the portly, white-haired Sharon told cheering supporters at his campaign headquarters. He called on Palestinians to abandon “the way of violence” and urged his vanquished opponent, Barak, to join forces with him in a broad-based national government. “I know peace requires difficult compromises — from both sides,” Sharon said. He also said President Bush liad called to congratulate him and to urge close co operation. An emotion-choked Barak conceded defeat soon after TV exit polls predicted Sharon had rolled over him with 59.5 percent of the vote to his 40.5 percent. Partial official results — about 25 percent of the vote — showed a nearly identical maigin of victory. ‘The road we chose is the one and only true path,” Barak said as backers, some teary-eyed, slowly waved blue-and-white Israeli flags. “The true path requires courage ... and it is possible that the public is not fully ready for the painful truth.... The truth will prevail.” Barak said Sharon had proposed a government that would include the Labor Party. He left open the door to such an alliance, but only if agreement could be reached on making peace with the Palestinians. “We should not rule out being part of a unity government,” he said. “If it is not possible, the Labor Party will be a fighting opposition, and will fight for what it believes.” Once complete results are announced witliin eight days, Sharon will have 45 days to form a coalition gov eminent and get it approved by Israel’s parliament, or Knesset. Because no lawmakers’ seats were at stake, Sliaron inherits the same sharply divided Knesset that Barak faced. Many analysts say it could be just as Israel see page 6 Two trains collide; 4 seriously injured by John Kekis Associated Press SYRACUSE, N.Y. — AnAmtrak passenger train carrying 98 passengers rear-ended a freight train Monday, causing mostly minor injuries to 68 people on board. The collision sent many passengers hurtling into the seats. Emergency officials initially said four people were critically injured. But Phil Politano, spokesman for Rural Metro Medical Services, said the most serious injury was a broken leg. Officials would not comment on what caused the crash. I The eastbound Amtrak train had just left the Syracuse station when it liit the back end of the 92-car CSX freight train, also eastbound, in an industrial area north of the city, said CSX spokesman Robert Sullivan. “It was like hitting a brick wall,” said off-duty train conductor Dennis Perri. “I heard the brakes go into emergency, but I never thought we were going to hit another train. Tire impact was just unbelievable.” The five-car Amtrak train was headed from Niagara Falls to New York City with 98 passengers and four crew members, Amtrak said. World Briefs ■ GOP and lobbyists plan to expand Bush tax cut package WASHINGTON (AP) - Congres sional Republicans and lobbyists say they like President Bush’s proposed tax cut, but they won’t back down from plans to add their own priorities, even though Bush is promising to defend his proposal “mightily.” Begiiuting a week of selling iiis tax plan, Bush was visiting a Washington area small business Tuesday to spot light his argument that his proposal would spark greater economic growth. ■ Estrada sues over legitimacy of successor MANILA, Philippines (AP) - Ousted Pliilippine President Joseph Estrada filed a lawsuit with the Supreme Court on Tuesday question ing the legitimacy of his successor. Estrada lawyers said the petition is the first direct challenge to the presidency of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who was sworn in Jan. 20 as swelling street protests forced Estrada to leave the presidential palace. ■ Ark. considers nude dancing bills UTTLE ROCK (AP) — The Legis lature is considering two bills that would give exotic dancers less wiggle room. One proposal would close estab lishments at midnight if nude dancing is performed. It would restrict dancers to the stage, no closer than 15 feet from patrons, and would ban tips. No one under 21 would be allowed to work as a dancer. . i Rewarding Opportunities for Dynamic People! COLONIAL LIFE & ACCIDENT INSURANCE COMPANY Seniors! Colonial Life & Accident, a proven Industry leader, has a unique business to business marketing opportunity. The position offers substantial earnings potential for the selected candidates. 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