Beverly Hills Bans Semiautomatic Guns
Hoping to goad Gov. George Deukmejian into signing a bill to outlaw assault rifles statewide, the Beverly Hills City Council this week banned the sale and possession of semiautomatic weapons.
“The state Legislature moved, but the governor hasn’t moved, so we hope to move the governor,” said Councilman Robert K. Tanenbaum.
His comments came as the City Council unanimously reversed an earlier decision to let the state take the lead on banning Uzis, AK-47s and other semiautomatic weapons.
The measure goes into effect immediately. It provides for a $1,000 fine or six months in jail, or both, for sale or possession of any semiautomatic rifle that can fire 20 rounds or more without being reloaded. Sawed-off shotguns that can fire more than six rounds are also banned, along with the parts that would make such weapons workable.
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