L.A. to Delay Enforcing Part of Gun Law : City Will Ban Sale, but Not Possession, of Semiautomatic Rifles
Los Angeles officials today agreed to hold off on enforcing a ban on possession of semiautomatic rifles until March 1, pending a federal judge’s ruling on whether an ordinance intended to rid the city of the lethal weapons is constitutional.
U.S. District Judge William P. Gray refused, however, to grant a temporary restraining order lifting the ban on the sale of the weapons, which took effect Feb. 8.
“I have a great deal of sympathy with the city’s concerns, but I also am mindful of the constitutional arguments asserted by the plaintiffs,” Gray said.
‘Beginning of the End’
Colt Industries Inc., manufacturer of the AR-15 assault rifle, filed suit last week asserting that the City Council had usurped the state’s regulatory authority when it adopted the ordinance prohibiting sale and possession of semiautomatic weapons.
“We’re very pleased with the result,” Colt attorney Harry G. Melkonian said after today’s hearing. “The (possession) ordinance is not going to be enforced on Feb. 22. As far as we’re concerned, this is the beginning of the end of this ordinance. One step at a time.”
But City Atty. James Hahn said the judge left the key part of the ordinance, the ban on sale of the weapons, in effect.
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