HAWTHORNE : Plan to Curb Ammunition Sales Dies for Lack of Support
A controversial proposal to regulate ammunition sales within the city limits died for lack of support.
The proposed law, which was patterned after an ordinance passed by the Pasadena City Council last month, was brought before the Hawthorne City Council by Mayor Larry Guidi, who touted the measure as a law for “all the mothers who’ve lost kids” due to gunfire.
The law would have required ammunition buyers to give their names, addresses, driver’s license numbers and birth dates. Retailers would have been required to furnish that information to law enforcement agencies upon request.
But after intense lobbying against the ordinance by a National Rifle Assn. attorney, a local gun dealer and El Segundo Councilman Michael Robbins, Guidi declined to introduce the measure, effectively killing it.
“There was no support from up here. You could feel it,” he said after the meeting.
Councilwomen Ginny M. Lambert and Martha Bails agreed with Robbins’ assessment that the law would be ineffective and drive business to neighboring cities.
“If you don’t want your customers, I’ll be happy to take their business,” Robbins told the council.
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