GARDEN GROVE : NRA Targets Gun Control Proposal

National Rifle Assn. representatives took aim this week at Councilman Ho Chung, who had called for a study of a possible gun control ordinance after last month’s slaying of Police Officer Howard E. Dallies.

Chung said he was overcome with sadness by the death of Dallies and other innocent victims and was looking for a way “to stop the killing.”

Chung said he withdrew his request for the gun control study from Tuesday’s City Council agenda when he was informed that the city has no jurisdiction over private possession of guns.

Nevertheless, about 25 members of the NRA and their supporters appeared at the council chambers Tuesday night.

Some told council members they need to be armed to protect their families.

“We know we live in a violent society,” Garden Grove resident Tracy Plummer said. “Surely, criminals will always be around. There is no guarantee that police will be there (to respond) in time.” Plummer said Chung failed in his responsibility as a city official to uphold the U.S. Constitution by asking for an exploration of possible gun control.

Noble Shaw, president of the NRA’s Institute of Legislative Action in Garden Grove, said in an interview Wednesday that even if there is gun control, guns will still be in the streets and will find their way into the hands of criminals.

Shaw said Chung and other officials should instead work to influence the judicial system to ensure that criminals go to jail and are not released early because of overcrowding or for other reasons.

“I don’t think he (Chung) was up on the topic, and he hopped on the bandwagon to ban the guns,” Shaw said.

Chung said Wednesday that he is neutral on gun control and that his goal is to keep weapons away from “bad guys,” not from good citizens.

“I’m concerned on how to reduce these kinds of killings,” Chung said. “We have to disarm the criminals. But the problem goes behind city boundaries. It is an educational, national and social issue.”

City Atty. John Shaw said state law preempts cities from exercising any form of gun control.