Supervisors Strengthen Gun Regulations in wake of Monterey Park Mass Shooting

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Los Angeles, CA – In response to the mass shooting in the City of Monterey Park that took the lives of 11 people, today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a series of motions authored by Chair Janice Hahn, Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, and Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath to strengthen gun regulations in Los Angeles County and support federal and state gun safety legislation. This follows the Board of Supervisors’ recent action to declare gun violence a public health crisis in Los Angeles County.

“We know that blame for the gun violence epidemic lies with the failure of Congressional leaders to pass even the most basic federal gun laws. Because they have not acted — we have found actions we can take at the county level to protect lives,” said Chair Hahn.

“I intend to do whatever is possible to protect Los Angeles County residents, particularly following the tragedy in the First District community of Monterey Park. Gun-related violence will continue to cause mass damage, trauma, and harm if we do not take the necessary steps at all levels of government. This includes supporting key gun safety legislation like Senator Feinstein’s recent action to reinstate the assault weapons and high capacity magazine ban. Today, living in the United States of America means being at risk of becoming a victim of a mass shooting. To that end, time is of the essence,” said Supervisor Solis.

“We must do absolutely everything in our power to prevent and put an end to gun violence in our community. Today’s motions do exactly that,” said Supervisor Horvath. “I’m proud to advance common sense gun safety guidelines and to join my Board colleagues in our continued demand to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.”

Item 2: Establishing Ordinances to Enhance Gun Regulation in Los Angeles County
Item 2, which was authored by Chair Hahn and co-authored by Supervisor Solis, includes four new county ordinances:

1. Establishes ordinance to prohibit the sale of .50 caliber firearms and ammunition in the unincorporated areas of the County
2. Establishes ordinance to prohibit the possession of firearms on County property, such as parks, beaches, and County buildings, with certain exceptions or law enforcement and active military.
3. Directs the LA County Department of Regional Planning to prepare an ordinance to implement zoning regulations with a 1,000 feet buffer between firearm sellers and child-sensitive areas like parks and schools.
4. Directs the Treasurer and Tax Collector to prepare the final amendments to the County code regarding business licenses to place commonsense regulations on firearm and ammunition dealers in unincorporated areas of the County. This would include requirements for gun stores to keep fingerprint logs, install and maintain security cameras, prohibit minors from entering areas where firearms are sold, and maintaining an inventory of firearms.

Item 8: Support for Key Federal Gun Safety Legislation to Ban the Sale of Assault Weapons
Item 8, authored by Supervisor Solis and co-authored by Chair Hahn, directs the County’s Chief Executive Office’s Legislative Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations branch to send a five-signature letter to U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, with a copy to the Los Angeles County Congressional delegation, in support of S.14 and S. 25 ─ legislation to raise the minimum age to purchase assault weapons from 18 to 21 and ban the sale, transfer, manufacture, and importation of military-style assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and other high-capacity ammunition feeding devices.

Item 15: Strengthening Gun Regulations in Los Angeles County
Item 15, authored by Supervisor Horvath, instructs County Counsel to draft an ordinance and report back to the Board of Supervisors on requiring all firearms in a residence be securely stored in a locked container or disabled trigger lock and draft ordinance language that would mandate liability insurance for gun owners. The motion also requests the feasibility of implementing a County gun database and asks that the Treasurer and Tax prepare an amendment to the County code requiring signs to be displayed with specific language warning customers about the risk associated with access to firearms wherever they are sold.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column]
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