Top Cops Among the Chief Supporters of Gun Control

It’s not hard to pick out those who favor strong gun control legislation. They’re usually liberals, Democrats, people who wouldn’t think of owning a gun themselves.

Yet I find it refreshing that, in California, those at the forefront in proposing the strongest firearm restrictions don’t fit that characterization at all. This bunch not only carries guns, they’re usually conservative, and in the last gubernatorial election they supported Republican Dan Lungren.

They happen to run the 347 police departments for California’s cities. They make up the California Police Chiefs Assn.

Its position paper, called “Confronting the American Tragedy,” proposes such sweeping gun restrictions that it has the National Rifle Assn. folk jumping out of their holsters.

A gun license for every owner, re-registration each time a gun is sold, strict safety standards, bullet restrictions, a ban on assault weapons, mandatory destruction of guns confiscated in crimes--it’s all anathema to the gun lobby.

So why are these police chiefs at odds with their usual constituents when it comes to guns? I got the answer from Buena Park Police Chief Richard M. Tefank, who is the group’s current president--and a strong supporter of its 4-year-old position paper.

“I don’t see myself as a gun control advocate,” he said. “But I’m for a reasonable approach. However, guns are an issue that draws such emotion, reason gets overlooked.”

Tefank isn’t one to give tacit approval to his group’s position and then hope no one will ask him about it. Last week he spoke at a meeting of the Orange County-based Citizens for the Prevention of Gun Violence. And this week he lent his support to a new gun control group, the Bell Campaign, led by victims of gun trauma.

And under Tefank’s leadership, the California Police Chiefs Assn. is backing every major gun control bill headed toward Gov. Gray Davis’ desk for signature.

Such as: Banning cheap handguns (Saturday night specials) that can’t meet safety standards, reducing handgun sales to one per month per customer, ordering safety locks for all guns sold, and further restrictions on assault weapons.

“What is so unreasonable about outlawing a gun that will go off if it drops on the floor?” Tefank said. “Or wanting safety locks so guns in the home can’t go off by accident if handled by children?”

Costa Mesa Police Chief David L. Snowden, who happens to be a gun collector, says none of the recommendations from the chiefs’ position paper is unreasonable; and none would interfere with anyone’s right to own a firearm.

“But I can remember the press conference when we first issued it,” Snowden said. “I started getting tremendous hate mail, from as far away as Alabama.”

Snowden and Tefank both recall that the position paper was hotly debated among the chiefs themselves.

“Not all police chiefs agree with us on guns,” Tefank said. “But sometimes you just have to take a stand.”

Even if it means a potential public brouhaha with the sheriff of your own county. When newly elected Sheriff Mike Carona let it be known he thought more residents--not fewer--deserved approval for concealed-weapons permits, Tefank was among the first to express concern.

In the 1980s, the police chiefs in Orange County had all agreed to turn over concealed-weapons permit approval to the sheriff’s office. Permits were issued to those who could show “good cause” they needed them. But in light of Carona’s statements, Tefank and half a dozen other chiefs informed him they were taking back authority over such permits.

“I was concerned that the sheriff’s standard for ‘good cause’ would not be as high as I’d like it,” Tefank said. “But really, I don’t think it’s fair to judge the sheriff on this right now. Let’s see where the permits stand a year from now. It may turn out the sheriff’s standards are closer to our views than we realized.”

Most know that the law allows them to get around the chiefs by applying directly to the sheriff. Buena Park has had only one request for a concealed-weapons permit since Tefank took back control. A security guard said he needed it because he rode his motorcycle back and forth to work. Tefank turned him down.

“I didn’t think that was good cause enough,” the chief said.

It’s nice to see such a voice of reason in such a powerful position. And to think, Tefank had a hard time becoming a cop at all.

That’s because he stands just one-sixteenth of an inch shorter than the 5-feet, 8-inch height minimum many police departments set. It cost him the chance for his first choice, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, when his career began. He was accepted at the Montclair Police Department. Four years later he switched to the city police in Pomona, where he worked his way up to become chief.

He took the Buena Park police chief’s job in 1989 and quickly became involved in the state organization.

By the way, if you’re one of those who disagree with Tefank on gun restrictions, here’s one that will really frost you: He’s also a gun burner. I asked Tefank what his city did with guns confiscated during the commission of crimes.

“Once a year,” he said with a smile, “we take them out and have them all melted down.”

Jerry Hicks’ column appears Monday and Thursday. Readers can reach Hicks by calling (714) 564-1049 or by e-mail to jerry.hicks@latimes.com.