L.A. council passes gun control laws

The Los Angeles City Council approved a package of gun control laws today placing new requirements on ammunition sellers and banning the sale of military-style ammunition in the hopes of further reducing the city’s gun and gang violence.

The measures ban the sale of .50 caliber ammunition capable of destroying a car engine, and would require the city’s ammunition vendors to be licensed, to sell their products face-to-face instead of over the Internet and report a full accounting of their inventory twice a year to the city’s police department.
The council passed laws prohibiting the installation of secret compartments for guns in cars and allowing the city to permanently seize vehicles cars used by gang members during a crime, which was proposed by City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo.

goThe council also approved an new ordinance that would allow landlords to evict tenants who are convicted of illegally possessing weapons or ammunition within 1,000 feet of the rental property.
Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who helped develop the ordinances with Councilman Jack Weiss and other members of council, praised the package at a press conference before the vote.

“We use this to stop a vehicle,” Bratton said, holding up a gold .50 caliber bullet longer and thicker than a finger. “Unless you are out trying to kill Godzilla, and I think the last time we saw Godzilla was in the 1950s, there is no need for this type of weapon” unless it is in the hands of the military or law enforcement, he said.

The council approved the measures unanimously. But C.D. Michel, a Long Beach attorney who represents the National Rifle Assn. and the California Rifle & Pistol Assn., said his clients were likely to sue over the new laws governing ammunition sales and vendors because they either conflict with or are duplicated by state law.

--Maeve Reston

Comments

[Scott]

I think it is sad that peole in LA blindly hand over their rights to the police state. If citizens are not allowed to by a bullet, than the police don't need it either.

What a disgrace! I remember seeing LAPD shooting a bunch of hispanic protesters with Shotguns not too long ago. When I see this article, I can't help but think that LA Times has no problem with police hammering poor people with rubber bullets.

Weiss called my sport a "sick industry". Mr. Weiss, I tell you, your democratic friends in Illinois have reminded me that politicians are only policticians for fame and power. Not the money. You my friend, should not talk of something you obviously know little of.

These laws are not going to protect people from violence in Los Angeles. More gun controls will empower the people that want to hurt us.

Governmments that suppress the right to self-defense, and the rights in our constitution should be suspect...

Note to LA Times: Maeve Reston doesn't know anything about guns, bullets, and CA gun laws. It just looks stupid to have reporters fear mongering about the size of bullets.

I am sure she doesn't know that this also effects handgun ammunition, the types that don't go through car engines...

[Jerry]

This isn't going to do a damn thing to stop or even slow down crime in Los Angeles.

Want to know why?

Because gangbangers and criminals don't use .50 BMG's to commit crimes.

For one it's way to big, too heavy and WAY too long (can't exactly conceal one of those under a flannel shirt or an black hooded jacket) and second they cost too much (.50 BMG's cost upwards of $2000). There hasn't been a single case of a crime being committed by a criminal with a .50 BMG since they came out. Police Chief William J. Bratton and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa are just going for some feel good legislation so that they can look tough on crime without having to do the dirty and thankless job of trying to confront and imprison criminals while at the same time being politically correct.

What a couple of clowns.

[Lemount]

Why does a gang member need to shoot an engine when they can shoot the person driving??? Police shoot the engine as a non-lethal tactic. I can assure you MS-13 do not care about non-lethal tactics. As for shooting down helicopters. If crime is that bad here were helicopters are dodging bullets then the CA National Guard is the solution because laws cannot fix a warzone.

[Chris]

It seems to me that, since LA law is preempted by California law dealing with .50 caliber ammunition, that the City Council, City Atty. Rocky Delgadillo, Los Angeles Police Chief William J. Bratton and Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa have committed the crime of conspiracy to violate 42USC1983. Conspiracy to violate Federal law is, I believe, a felony. Will the US Attorney step up and prosecute them?

[Thomas M. Jackson]

It all comes down to one thing. Taking away the guns and making new gun laws only makes it easier for the criminals. When are we going to wise up?