Bill Would Tighten Gun Plant Security
The Assembly on Thursday passed and sent to the governor’s desk legislation aimed at tightening security at gun-making plants that produce so-called Saturday night specials.
Factories that manufacture most of the inexpensive weapons are in Southern California and are known as the Ring of Fire. Together, they produce 80% of the nation’s inexpensive handguns.
Prompted by the thefts of dozens of weapons from a Costa Mesa manufacturer and thousands of weapons from Lorcin Engineering in Mira Loma, AB 2188 by Assemblyman Jack Scott (D-Altadena) passed 43 to 21 with bipartisan support.
Gov. Pete Wilson has yet to review the bill and has not taken a position on it, a spokesman said.
Four people were convicted in the Lorcin thefts, but the lax security at that plant and at Bryco Arms of Costa Mesa, where at least 39 guns disappeared about the same time, made it imperative for the state to step in and shore up security, Scott said.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
