Bernson Pushes Shotguns for Cops

Los Angeles City Councilman Hal Bernson called on the city Wednesday to allow motorcycle officers to carry shotguns, saying the weapons could have made a difference in the recent North Hollywood bank robbery and shootout.

Bernson’s motion calls on the city to spend $60,000 to install racks to hold shotguns on motorcycles.

The Police Commission has approved equipping each motorcycle officer with a shotgun but the funding for gun racks was eliminated last year due to budget cuts.

Bernson argued that police need to be better equipped to confront well-armed criminals. “Whatever it costs, it’s worth it,” he said.

Bernson’s motion said that one of the first officers on the scene of the robbery was a motorcycle officer armed only with a handgun.

Bernson said police have told him that a shotgun could have knocked down the robbers, who wore bulletproof armor and carried AK-47 assault rifles.

Eleven officers and six civilians were wounded in the shooting spree that ended with the deaths of the two robbers.

Bernson’s motion will be considered by the council’s Public Safety Committee within the next several weeks.