Officials Urge Tough Gun Control Package

An unprecedented coalition of lawmakers from eight Los Angeles County cities vowed Wednesday to pursue a package of narrow gun control measures in an attempt to stem what they called a public health crisis of violence plaguing children.

The group’s leader, Los Angeles City Councilman Mike Feuer, introduced a series of motions Wednesday, which, among other things, would require background checks, permits and thumbprints for ammunition purchases. Mayors and council members from Beverly Hills, Inglewood, Long Beach, Pasadena, San Fernando, Santa Monica and West Hollywood said they would try to institute parallel ordinances within their jurisdictions, lobby state and federal legislators in unison, and meet monthly to solidify the regional approach.

“The issue of gun violence transcends the geographic boundaries of municipalities,” said Garland Hardemann of Inglewood, noting that his city is surrounded on three sides by Los Angeles.

“When L.A. is a safer place, Pasadena will be a safer place. When we all get together, the region will be safer,” said Councilman Paul Little of Pasadena, who last week was on the short side of a 4-2 vote to repeal an ordinance requiring ammunition buyers to sign a logbook. “I hope it sends a very strong message to our leaders in far-off places that they need to follow our lead.”

But the lawmakers’ enthusiasm during a well-attended news conference on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall evoked vitriolic comments by Jesse Lee Peterson, who called the politicians hypocritical “racists” out of touch with the needs of the inner city.

“We are good citizens, and we cannot protect ourselves because you allow the criminals to run wild,” said Peterson, who identified himself as a minister and president of BOND (Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny). “I’d like you to come and live in the inner city for a week and see the importance of having a weapon.”

At one point, Peterson demanded to know how many of the 20 gun control advocates lived in the inner city. None raised a hand.

“Go after the criminals and not the good people,” he said, then continued to interrupt by calling Feuer and others hypocrites when they tried to respond.

In addition to the ammunition control proposals, which are the most aggressive in the state, Feuer suggests requiring that trigger locks be sold with all guns; banning the sale of magazines with a capacity of more than 10 rounds; mandating background checks for all employees of gun dealers; and closing a legal loophole that allows cheap handguns known as Saturday night specials to be sold through a third party.

Indicating strong support for the measures, four other Los Angeles City Council members and City Atty. James K. Hahn joined Feuer at the podium. Absent from the group, however, was a representative from Mayor Richard Riordan’s office.

Although Feuer gave Riordan a copy of the proposals last Tuesday, aides said they had not yet decided whether to support the legislation. They declined to discuss pros and cons.

“These are all great questions--I don’t think as an office we’re prepared to answer them yet,” Riordan communications director Steve Sugerman said when asked for opinions on each element of the plan. “The council will do its thing, we’ll keep our eyes on it and evaluate it.”

Privately, some members of the mayor’s staff have pooh-poohed the proposals as a headline grab that will be ineffective in dealing with violence.

“It’s a little bit of a distraction, because it’s not going to save lives,” one aide said.

At the news conference, supporters acknowledged that the legislation dances on the periphery of the gun control question, largely because state law preempts local jurisdictions from attacking it head-on.

“Each one, independent of the other, they’ll do a little good. Collectively, they’ll do a lot of good,” said L.A. Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg. “If we can build this team, and I know we can, we can turn this around.”