HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-05-10 - AGENDA REPORTS - USE SALE FIREARMSAGENDA REPORT
item to De presentea Dy:
Councilmember Heidt
NEW BUSINESS
DATE:
May 10, 1994
SUBJECT:
Local Authority to Regulate the Use and Sale of Firearms
DEPARTMENT:
City Council
BACKGROUND
As a member of Los Angeles Elected Women Against Violence, Councilmember Heidt received a
letter dated December 1, 1993, from West Hollywood City Councilmember requesting other local
governments to adopt a resolution. The resolution urges the California Legislature to grant local
government the right to override state laws regarding the sale and use of firearms in cases where
local government regulations would be more stringent.
Councilmember Heidt requests that the Members of the City Council review the City of West
Hollywood's December 6, 1993, Agenda Report and Resolution. Staff desires direction from Council
to proceed on this item. Options are: 1. Work with the League of California Cities to sponsor local
support for local control over firearms regulation legislation. 2. Write State and Federal
representatives and urge their support for local control over firearms. 3. Do both the above or,
4. Take no action.
This item originally appeared on the February 6, 1994, City Council Agenda; this item was pulled
from the Agenda and continued to tonight's meeting.
RECOMMENDATION
Discuss the City of West Hollywood's December 6, 1993, Agenda Report and Resolution relative to
local authorities' ability to regulate the use and sale of firearms.
Direct staff as to what action they desire to take of this agenda item.
ATTACHMENTS
December 1, 1993, letter from West Hollywood Councilmember Abbe Land
December 6, 1993, Agenda Report from West Hollywood
West Hollywood Resolution
DELffirearms.agd
Agenda Item:
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7021 ;11-30-93 ;10:01AM ; 2136529930- 805 258 8125:9 2
City of
West Hollywood
December 1, 1993 City Councll
Dear L.A. Elected Women Against Violence Member:
On December 6 at our regular City Council meeting, I
will introduce the enclosed resolution urging the California
Legislature to grant local governments the right to override
state laws regulating the sale and use of firearms in those
cases where local government regulations would be more
stringent.
I have called a press conference on December 6 at 5:30
P.M. It will be held at West Hollywood Park Auditorium (647
N. San Vicente Blvd.-- between Melrose and Santa Monica
Blvds.). I would very much like for you to take part. At
the press conference, we will discuss the fact that L.A.
County Elected Women Against Violence members will play a
leading role in this effort to give local government greater
ability to deal with firearm violence, and that our members
will also be initiating other firearm and violence control.
measures.
You may wish to introduce a similar resolution in your
I
If so, please let me know so that the
information can be included in our press packet. Also, if
you are participating in or initiating other violence control
measures, don't hesitate to send me information about what
you're doing, and the media will receive it.
I would appreciate your RSVP as soon as possible so that
I can let the media know who will be attending. Please call
my office and speak with Deanna Stevenson (310) 854-7426
regarding your availability and any questions you might
have.
Kindest regards,
4�2144—�—
Abbe Land
SENT'BY:Xerox Tefecopier 7021 :11-30-93 ,10.02AM 2136529930-+ 805 259 8125. # 3
NEW BUSINESS: DECEMBER 6, 1993
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION URGING THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE
TO GRANT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THE AUTHORITY, -
TO REGULATE THE USE AND SALE OF FIREARMS WITHIN
WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTIONS
INITIATED BY: MAYOR PRO TEMPORE ABBE LAND
(Deanna Stevenson)
The sale and use of firearms, an well as the treatment of
those wounded by them, impacts the citizens of our State
through the imposition of taxes, the pain of personal loss,
and the creation of a climate of fear that pervades our
communities and neighborhoods. Currently the authority of
the State Legislature supercedes that of local government in
regard to regulating the sale and use of firearms. This
resolution would help to catalyze efforts by the State
Legislature to provide local governmental agencies with
mechanisms to deal with firearm violence. It calls for
the State to permit local goverments the authority to
regulate the sale and use of firearms only in the instance
where the 'local governmental entity wishes to establish more
stringent laws than those adopted by the Legislature.
* Approve the attached resolution, RESOLUTION NO , A
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEER`-iiOLLYWOOD
URGING THE CALIIFORNIA LEGISLATURE TO GRANT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
THE AUTHORITY TO REGULATE THE USE AND SALE OF FIREARMS IN
THEIR JURISDICTIONS;
Authorize the City to take the load on this issue, and to
work with local and state elected officials --including the 40
women legislators who attended the Women's Summit Against
Violence and are members of L.A. County Elected Women for
Violence Reduction --to croate a campaign to have this
Initiative and other gun regulation initiatives passed by the
State Legislature.
* Provide information on City Channels 10 and 6 about the
importance of gun control.
SENT'BY:Xerox Telecopier 7021 ;11-30-93 .10:02AM 2136529930-* 805 259 81254 4
BACKGROUND:
The figures on firearm use and violence have reached shameful
proportions. In Los Angeles County alonethe proliferation
and use of firearms have reached an alarming state, as is
indicated by the following statistics:
Thar* are approximately 2 million guns in Los Angeles
County;
. In 1990, Los Angeles County tax payers spent $53.million
to care for gunshot victims;
In 1991, a record 1,554 people were killed with firearms
in Los Angeles County;
. Martin Luther King, Jr./Drew Medical Center treats some
3,864 gunshot victims per year.
Nationwide our County, and in many cases southern California
as a whole, has gained a reputation as an unsafe place in
which to do business and reside. The picture painted by the
national media that gang violence is proliferating in
California has exerted a major impact on tourism.
No community in our state is safe from firearm violence.
Even West Hollywood, with its relatively good crime record,
is reporting a higher than usual incidence of crime and
violence associated with the use, or threat of the use, of
firearms.
Recently the Los Angeles Times courageously initiated a
series of articles calling for a ban on the utilization of
handguns to deal with the ever increasing cycle of violence
in our state.
The attached Resolution is, in part, a response to that
series of articles. Many experts in our country, and a
plurality of our citizens, now agnea that firearm violence
must be faced as an issue of alneat concern, and eradicated.
Stringent reulation of the se and use of firearms is an
effective way to accomplish that goal. Even if progress on
this issue is not accomplished in a day, the eventual
reduction of firearm violence, and, hopefully its
eradication, is worth the effort.
The City of West Hollywood, in conjunction with the elected
officials who are members of the group L.A. County Elected
Women for Violence Reduction, and other elected officials and
community leaders, has the opportunity through this
resolution and subsequent actions to call attention to the
pressing need to deal with gun control. We have the
responsibility to address the concerns of citizens who decry
what is happening in our school systems, on our city streets,
and, in what should be, the safety of our homes.
5ENT•BY:Xerox Telecopier 7021 ;11-30-93 .10:03AM 2136529930- 805259 81254 5
Passage of this resolution is a stop which, ultimately, could
lead to the reduction of crime and tragedy in the City of
West Hollywood, our County, and our State. As part of .its
gun controls efforts, the City should also advocate for the
passage of the anti -violence billsattached to this agenda
item, which include efforts to reduce the sale of ammunition,
regulation of gun dealerships, the, prohibition on spousal
abusers from owning firearms, and many others. The City can
continue to work with such groups as the L.A. County Elected
Women for violence Reduction toward the passage of these
anti -violence initiatives.
None.
aGIVI-Ut•Aerox Ielecopler ';u21 ill—JU—yd ;IU;UJAM i
RESOLUTION NO.
21J6b2`Jydu- dub 2by bi2b;;; 6
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
HOLLYWOOD URGING THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO GRANT LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS THE AUTHORITY TO REGULATE THE USE AND SALE
OF FIREARMS WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTIONS _
WHEREAS: the sale and use of firearms profoundly contributes
to the climate of violence and crime in our City, our County,
and our"State.
WHEREAS: violence arising from the'u®e, or threat of the
use of firearms impacts all of our communities, making them
less safe places in which to live and do business; and
WHEREAS: this violence impacts the economy of our
communities, our County, and our State by making it necessary
to expend millions of dollars of taxes for emergency room and
other hospital care; and
WHEREAS: the occurrence of this violence necessitates the
hiring of increasing numbers of law enforcement officers and
others to deal with the prevention of hand -gun violence and
its effects; and
WHEREAS: this violence severely affects young people in our
schools, women, the elderly our friends, and our families,
many of whom are innocent victims; and
WHEREAS: this is a turning point in our communities, in our
County and State, and our -citizens are calling for gun
control and an and to violence; and
WHEREAS: local goverments should have the ability to
regulate the use and sale of firearms in the instance that
they should desire to enact more stringent laws than those
adopted by the State Legislature;
NOW THEREFORE: the City Council of the City of West
Hollywood does hereby adopt this resolution, which is in
keeping with the City's goals to protect the well-being and
quality of life of its citizens, and to assure their safety.
The City agrees to take a leadership position on the issue of
gun violence and to work with other elected officials,
including the women who are members of L. A. Elected Women
for Violence Reduction, and school and community leaders in
order to create effective ways by which firearm violence can
be eradicated.
�enr br;xerox lelecopier 'IU21 ;11-3U-93 ;10:04AM 2135529930- 805 259 8125;9 7
Adopted thio 6th day of December, 1993.
Attest:
city Clerk
Mayor