City Gun Registration Proposed as a Way to Reduce Drive-Bys

To curb an alarming increase in drive-by shootings, newly elected City Councilwoman Rita Walters on Monday proposed the creation of a system for registering guns and restricting the sale of ammunition in Los Angeles.

Accompanied by City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, Walters announced her motion at a news conference held in front of a South-Central Los Angeles pawnshop known to sell single bullets for as little as 40 cents each.

“Here, for 40 cents you can purchase death,” Walters said. “For 40 cents you can forever deprive a family of a breadwinner, a wife or a husband, a brother, a sister, a child.”

Walters’ proposal would direct the city attorney’s office and the Police Commission to prepare a report within 30 days on the legality of an ordinance requiring that residents register their guns with the city and show proof of registration when purchasing bullets or shotgun shells.

The motion would also restrict the sale of ammunition to that of the caliber of the firearm registered by the customer, and ban the sale of bullets individually.

Walters said she wants fines and other penalties for failure to comply with the proposed law, but she did not specify them.

In an interview, Fred Romero, field coordinator for the Southern California chapter of the National Rifle Assn., called Walters’ motion “warped” and “on the verge of despotic,” because registration would provide a list that could enable authorities to someday confiscate guns from all private citizens.

“This is one of the greatest threats to gun owners in California we have ever seen,” Romero said. “This clearly demonstrates that there are people in positions of power in Los Angeles trying to do all they can to undermine . . . the constitutional right to keep and bear arms.”

Mayor Tom Bradley and Police Chief Daryl F. Gates could not reached for comment.

Councilwoman Joan Milke-Flores criticized the proposal on the grounds that residents could easily dodge its requirements by purchasing guns and ammunition outside of city limits.

“I’m sure she is well-meaning,” Flores said. “All of us would like to see something done about the proliferation of life-taking weapons, but we have to do it in a way that will be effective and not raise expectations.”

Councilman Nate Holden said that although the city currently regulates ammunition sales for one week before the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve to curtail random gunfire, state law would preempt any local ordinance governing the purchase and ownership of guns.

“No matter how noble her idea is, we do not have jurisdiction over the sale of guns in Los Angeles,” Holden said. “She has a long way to go on that motion and it is not likely she’ll get there in her lifetime.”

In 1989, the city of Los Angeles banned the sale of assault weapons, but the law was preempted when a similar law was enacted statewide, city officials said.

As it stands, only assault weapons must be registered with the state, according to state Deputy Atty. Gen. Paul Bishop.

“I’m not sure whether that state law would preempt any local ordinance governing other guns,” Bishop said. “It’s an area full of technicalities and political considerations.”

Assistant City Atty. Byron Boeckman said he could not make an immediate determination on whether a local gun-registration ordinance could be preempted by state law.

Walters maintained that the action is needed to curtail gang-related drive-by shootings, which are expected to reach an all-time high this year. Between January and October, there were 1,000 drive-by shootings reported in the city--a 23% increase in such incidents from the same period a year ago, Walters said.

“The lethal combination of firearms and ammunition has created an atmosphere of suspicion and terror in our communities,” Walters said. “I have had enough. We all have had enough.”

Of particular concern to Ridley-Thomas and Walters is the sale of firearms and ammunition from pawnshops in the 8th and 9th districts. Of the 15 businesses licensed to sell firearms in the 9th District, 12 are pawnshops, she said.

Shaking their heads in anger, pawnbrokers inside the Southwest Jewelry and Loan watched the news conference from behind a sales counter filled with guns and ammunition advertised for sale by the box and by the bullet.

According to a small handwritten sign listing “ammo prices,” .38-caliber bullets could be purchased for $15 a box or 40 cents each, and .357-caliber bullets for $20 a box or 50 cents each. Similarly, 12-gauge shotgun shells were being offered for $8.50 a box or 50 cents each.

“If it will make her (Walters) happy, we’ll take the sign down,” said Bernard Levine, manager of the pawnshop in the 4300 block of South Vermont Avenue. “Besides, all we have left are five boxes of .357-caliber bullets, and we aren’t going to be ordering any more.”

Bernard Kaufman, a salesman in the store, added that sales of ammunition account for “about one-tenth of 1% of our business.”

“We have no argument with restrictions on guns and ammo,” Kaufman said, “The guys who use guns (in crimes) get their ammo on the street or when they break into people’s homes.”

Ernie Delgado, Walters’ legislative aide, said Kaufman was missing the point. “We have to pay for a license to fish or even have a dog,” Delgado said. “We are saying there should also be a way of holding people accountable for owning deadly weapons.”