The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to support the reinstatement of a federal ban on assault weapons.
A 1994 ban on certain automatic firearms expired 10 years later and attempts to renew it have failed. But some legislators, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, have pledged to pass a new ban in light the shooting massacre in Newtown, CT, last month.
Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky recommended that the board throw its weight behind Feinstein's bill, which she has promised to bring to the Senate on Jan. 22, the first day new legislation will be heard.
Since the bill is not yet available for review, the board agreed to support it only to the extent that it reinstates the previous ban.
The board joined several city leaders calling for re-authorization of the gun control legislation, including Los Angeles City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, Councilman Eric Garcetti and City Controller Wendy Greuel. City Councilman Paul Koretz has said he will introduce a City Council resolution in support.
The board also voted to send letters to the mayors of all 88 cities in Los Angeles County, asking them to have their councils consider supporting Feinstein's bill.
Supervisor Michael Antonovich was the sole dissenting vote.
The measure was part of a broader public safety review recommended by Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas and also approved by the board Tuesday.
"We don't need to look across the country for examples of the devastating consequences of gun violence," Ridley-Thomas said of the many times he's met to comfort the families of those killed in local shootings.
The board voted unanimously to establish a task force of law enforcement, public health and mental health officials and charge that group with developing a comprehensive plan for curbing gun violence locally. The group will be asked to consider enhanced enforcement of gun control laws, as well as efforts to erase the stigma associated with seeking help for mental health problems.
The county will also survey public school districts to ensure compliance with mandated safety plans and conduct a safety assessment of county facilities and protocols in the event of an armed attack.
"It is not just a question about laws, but it is a question about our own set of values," Ridley-Thomas said. "We must recommit ourselves to the principle of non-violence."
You embody the 'slave mentality'
"In addition to the earplugs, Lanza wore all black beneath a military-style vest stuffed with 30-round clips for his Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifle" the Hartford Courant. "A Welsh-based firm is advertising a Ruger SR-22 semi-automatic as a “clone” of an AR-15, the gun loner Adam Lanza used to kill 26 people." The London Sun. "Lanza apparently sprayed two classrooms at the school with relentless fire from a semi-automatic assault rifle." CBSNews.com "An AR-15 type assault weapon was among the guns authorities believe suspect Adam Lanza stole from his mother to use in the massacre of 20 school children and six adults at a Newtown, Connecticut elementary school on Dec. 14." Bangor (Maine) Daily News. "The massacre in Connecticut that's taken the lives of at least 26 people was reportedly perpetrated with a .223 caliber rifle, a Glock pistol and a Sig Sauer pistol, according to NBC. The shooter was using one Sig Sauer and one Glock pistol, according to CNN. Later details emerged that the primary weapon was the Bushmaster 'assault-style' rifle." businessinsider.com Apparently, I'm not the only one who's confused.
I agree that law enforcement needs to step in when there is abuse but we also need to change the dynamic in our society so people know what is acceptable behavior and what isn't. We are too easy on criminals and crappy parents. Our country is more divided now than ever before and the sad thing is that it's over Right or Left not Right or Wrong. No matter what weapon was used in Sandy Hook, it was still a tragedy but one that would not have been prevented by more gun control. I also know quite a few gun owners and CCW holders that are trained better than the majority of LEO's and have cooler tempers. Move to Alaska and hunt from a helicopter? kinda like they do on the Channel Islands for goats and boar? Since I don't live in Alaska does that mean that the government has the right to dictate my freedoms or impose their beliefs upon me? My parents taught me right from wrong and something called manners, not the government. too bad the majority of people I encounter on a daily basis do not know what manners or courtesy is.
A .22 cal rifle can fit the definition of an assault weapon according to Sen. Frankenstein! Wake up folks, the 2nd amendment is a RIGHT, like it or not. Think about it, crime is at its lowest levels since the 1950's yet our treasonous media manipulates the dialogue in such a way that people like Earle are begging the gov't to take away our RIGHTS! How absurd is that? May I suggest to Earle, and others, if you really want to take away America's guns then to to do it through the proper channels. That would be by "either the Congress with a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate or by a constitutional convention called for by two-thirds of the State legislatures." Do not try to change the Constitution via fiat or for convenience.
Instead of banning assault weapons lets think about the people mainly Christians who are using said weapons against us citizens.The Christian religion should be investigated as to why it tends to be the most immoral religious faith in the United States.In California there are approximate 2 million men and women incarcerated in our prison system,and 75% of those incarcerated are Christians.Other religion faiths make up the rest and atheists only make up two tenths of one percent who are in prison. In Scandinavian countries where only 14%of the population attend church,crime is less prevalent.
And, the moment they walk out of their church they take their fake mask off and go back to their bad behavior. David, Interesting post.
http://www.infowars.com/statistics-prove-more-guns-less-crime/
Whatever your thoughts on this proposed ban, I suggest people do some research into what this ban really is about and the facts behind gun violence. The politicians only hope is that we remain ignorant and emotional. www.assaultweapon dot info