Westside : Council Delays Final Vote on Handgun Ban to Study Loopholes
West Hollywood city officials postponed the final vote to ban the sale of Saturday night special handguns, asking for a delay to ensure that the city measure will not conflict with state law.
If officials pass the ban as expected later this month, West Hollywood will be the first city in the nation to prohibit sales of the cheaply made, low-caliber pistols. The measure will come back to the council on Jan. 16 and could become law as early as February, officials said.
On Tuesday, the City Council directed its staff to close any loopholes that could lead to legal challenges. The five-member council gave the ordinance preliminary approval in December.
Officials in Santa Monica, Los Angeles and Huntington Park have indicated they may follow West Hollywood and enact similar bans.
Last week, the California Rifle and Pistol Assn. filed a lawsuit against a previously enacted city-approved ban on assault weapons and has vowed to fight this ban.
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