NRA-ILA Local Legislative Action Alert!
March 12, 2001
During the next few weeks, in a move to gain momentum for
further statewide restrictions on ammunition and firearm purchases,
first the Los Angeles City Police Commission, then the LA Public
Safety Committee ("PSC") and finally the LA City Council
are scheduled to consider several ordinances that, if passed,
will completely prohibit or dramatically restrict law abiding
citizens' ability to purchase or possess ammunition and firearms.
These ludicrous laws are being promoted primarily by Councilmember
and City Attorney candidate Michael Feuer, who has timed these
ordinances to coincide with his election campaign, and who has
announced his intention to get ordinances passed in as many cities
as possible, and then passed at the state level. Thus, although
the Council members take calls from city residents the most seriously,
even if you don't live in the City of Los Angeles you will be
impacted, and should take action to let them know why you oppose
these proposals!
On Monday, March 19th, the PSC (the Police Commission
already approved this one, with no advance notice) is scheduled
to vote on an "ultra compact handgun" ordinance that
will ban the sale, transfer, loan, or gift of any handgun that
was not at least 6 3/4" long and 4 1/2" high (file
no. 99-1580). Private party transfers are not exempted. As written,
this ordinance would even make it illegal to momentarily loan
these firearms to a friend at the range. It also seriously impacts
the ability of disabled shooters and women in particular,
who sometimes are not be able to handle larger firearms, to be
able to target shoot or use a firearm for self-defense. If passed,
the full City Council could vote on the ordinance as soon as
Wednesday, March 21st.
On Tuesday, March 20th, the Police Commission will
consider ordinances that would completely ban the sale of
all or most (e.g., magnum, +P, "slugs," etc.) ammunition
(no. 99-1581) and would require a fee payment, buyer's license,
background check, and waiting period before ammunition could
be purchased (effectively raising the price on a $1.00 box of
.22 ammunition to $15.00). (no. 94-0515 S2). If this passes it
will quickly move on to the PSC and then the City Council.
In early April, Feuer intends to introduce a package
of "smart" gun proposals by the City's handgun control
"Task Force," reports the March 11, 2001 Los Angeles
Times. (The 3/11/01 Times editorial board also endorsed Feuer
for City Attorney. This is the same editorial board that called
for a ban on private firearm possession in its December 12, 1993
issue.) Feuer's "dumb, dumber, and dumbest" gun
ban scheme would ban the sale of any gun without an internal
lock within the next year or so, the sale of any gun without
a magnetic ring unlocking device within the next two years or
so, and the sale of any gun without a fingerprint identification
unlocking device within the next three years or so. Since this
technology does not exist or is completely unreliable, under
this scheme the City is effectively planning to ban handguns
altogether.
The proposed ordinances are posted at www.nraila.org
under the "State and Local" section. You can monitor
the City Council's schedule at www.cityofla.org,
or by calling Councilmember Miscikowski, Chair of the PSC and
currently a strong supporter of the proposals. Please call and
write the PSC members (asterisked), the Police Commission ((213)
485-3531, and the rest of the City Council and their Legislative
Deputies (listed below, call bold names first) to ask questions,
get current copies of the ordinances, track and confirm hearing
dates (which may change on short notice), get hearing locations
and directions, and voice your opposition repeatedly as the ordinances
progress. Attend and speak at the hearing(s) if possible.
|
Councilmember/Deputy |
Dist. |
Phone Number |
Councilmember/Deputy |
Dist. |
Phone Number |
Mike Hernandez
David Hersch |
1 |
(213) 485-3451
(213) 473-7001 |
Mark Ridley-Thomas
Dora Gallo |
8 |
(213) 485-3331
(213) 473-7008 |
Joel Wachs*
Greg Nelson |
2 |
(213) 485-3391
(213) 473-7002 |
Rita Walters
Kinikia Gardner |
9 |
(213) 485-3351
(213) 473-7009 |
Laura Chick
Steve Meister |
3 |
(213) 485-3486
(213) 473-7003 |
Nate Holden
Steve Kim |
10 |
(213) 485-3323
(213) 473-7010 |
John Ferraro
Gayle Johnson |
4 |
(213) 485-3337
(213) 473-7004 |
Cindy Miscikowski*
Adina Tessler |
11 |
(213) 485-3811
(213) 473-7011 |
Michael Feuer
Daniel Hinerfeld |
5 |
(213) 485-5013
(213) 473-7005 |
Hal Bernson
Lee Hintlian |
12 |
(213) 485-3343
(213) 473-7012 |
Ruth Galanter
Tracy Warden |
6 |
(213) 485-3357
(213) 473-7006 |
Nick Pacheco*
Mariam Torben |
14 |
(213) 485-3335
(213) 473-7014 |
Alex Padilla
John Lee |
7 |
(213) 485-7777
(213) 473-7007 |
Rudy Svorinich, Jr.
John Cozza |
15 |
(213) 485-3357
(213) 485-7015 |
(Note:District 13 is currently vacant)
Also call Mayor Richard Riordan's office at (213) 847-3573
or (213) 847-3574 and urge him to oppose and veto the
ordinances.
As you may know, a number of gun control measures have taken
root in Los Angeles and gone on to be passed state wide in Sacramento.
These include bans on affordable self-defense handguns, one-gun-a-month
limitations, trigger lock laws, bans on magazines that hold over
10 rounds, ammunition restrictions, and more. In fact, there
is a "smart" gun bill (AB 1219 - Frommer) like the
LA proposal in Sacramento right now! That is why it is vital
that the pro-self-defense community both in the city proper and
throughout the state work to stop these onerous proposals.
Your freedoms depend on everyone's involvement! MAKE THE
CALLS! |
