California Legislative Alert

Please Post, Cross Post, and Distribute

"I don`t believe in any firearms being owned by civilians under any circumstances,
concealed or not concealable."
Los Angeles City Councilmember Nick Pacheco
City of Los Angeles Public Safety Committee Hearing, March 19^th, 2001.

As reported by Loren Keller, City News Service

If it wasn`t obvious enough before, the truth is out now. Many of the elected officials in the City of Los Angeles want to ban civilian gunownership. Only a state law (which could be repealed) that prohibits cities from doing so is stopping them. Right now the gun ban lobby in LosAngeles is pulling out all the stops to rush through laws that come as close as possible.

At the Wednesday March 21 Los Angeles City Council meeting, Councilmember and City Attorney Candidate Mike Feuer`s small handgunban passed by a vote of 9 to 2. Testimony was cut off after only seven minutes for each side. Representatives from the Million Mom Marchappeared in force, as well as a number of people to oppose the ban. When Council members Svorinich and Bernson tried to voice their oppositionand ask critical questions, debate was cut off and the vote pushed through.

In addition to the ultracompact handgun ban proposal, there was a last minute agenda item pushed through by Councilmember Feuer to includefingerprints on DROS forms in the City of Los Angeles. This is purported to be a tool for prosecuting criminals who attempt to purchase firearms,but Councilmember Bernson`s questioning revealed that it will accomplish nothing except to harass gun buyers. This proposal will be turned intoan ordinance and will return to council within weeks.

Due to the absence of Councilmember Joel Wachs, the 3/21 vote was not final on the small and medium sized gun ban. The final vote will takeplace on Wednesday, March 28. There will be no additional public comment on this issue allowed. It is important to contact CouncilmembersJoel Wachs and Nate Holden before the hearing to voice your opposition. A copy of the "ultracompact" handgun ordinance is available on theNRA-ILA website`s State and Local section under the California heading.

On Wednesday, March 28^th the City Council will also consider Council member Hernandez` Ammunition Ban Proposal, the Feuer Ammunition"Licensing" proposal, and Councilmember Cindy Miscikowski`s proposal to ban "bad" ammo (magnum, +P, etc.). These proposals would banthe sale of most or all ammunition, or will require a license for the purchase of ammunition that would have to be renewed on a yearlybasis. Please call, fax, and e-mail Council members Wachs, Bernson, and Holden to voice your opposition to these proposals. The City Councilmeeting will be held at 10AM at 200 N. Main Street, Room 300.

Next, Feuer will be pushing to limit guns in the city to those with personalized fingerprint activation devices. This technology doesn`t exist yet, andif it ever does it will raise the cost of any gun to over $900.00.

Even if you don`t live in the City of Los Angeles, understand that Feuer and the other LA officials who work closely with the gun ban lobby,have been using their positions to promote their anti-gun agenda not only in LA City, but in other cities and at the state level in Sacramento. Itis important that you act now. Please contact members of the City Council today using the following numbers and e-mail addresses:

D-2 Joel Wachs (Legislative Deputy: Greg Nelson); (213) 485-3391; Fax (213) 485-0636; email [email protected]

D-10 Nate Holden (Legislative Deputy: Steve Kim); (213) 485-3323; Fax (213) 485-9829 ; email [email protected]

D-12 Hal Bernson (Legislative Deputy: Lee Hintlian); (213) 485-3343; Fax (213) 473-6925; email [email protected]

Please be sure to thank Council member Svorinich for his support. Phone (213) 485-3347; Fax (213) 626-5431; email [email protected] and to call Mayor Richard Riordan`s office at (213) 847-3573 or (213) 847-3574 and urge him to oppose and veto the ordinances.