R-8702
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RESOLUTION NO.
8702
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA URGING
THE S~ATE LEGISLATURE TO GRANT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS THE AUTHORITY TO
REGULATE THE USE AND SALE OF FIREARMS WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTIONS
AND FOR THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO ITSELF ENACT LAWS WHICH PROHIBIT
EASY ACCESS TO FIREARMS AND TO TAKE STEPS TO STEM THE EPIDEMIC OF
VIOLENCE IN OUR STATE.
WHEREAS: the sale and use of firearms profoundly contributes to the
climate of violence and crime in our City, our County and our
state.
WHEREAS: violence arising from the use, or threat of the use of
firearms impacts all of our communities, making it necessary to
expend millions of dollars of taxes for emergency room and other
hospital care; and
WHEREAS: the occurrence of this violence necessitates the hiring of
increasing numbers of law enforcement officers and others to deal
with the prevention of gun-related violence and its effects; and
WHEREAS: this violence severely affects our children, particularly,
young people in our schools, women, the elderly, our friends and
our families, many of whom are innocent victims; and
WHEREAS: this is a turning point in our communities, in our county
and state, and our citizens are calling for gun control and an end
to violence; and
WHEREAS: under the current state of the law, it appears that local
governments are preempted from regulating in the area of firearms
because of existing regulation by the state; and
WHEREAS: local governments should have the ability to regulate the
use and sale of firearms in the instance that they should desire to
enact more stringent laws that those adopted by the state
Legislature;
WHEREAS: current state law is inadequate and illogical in its
regulation of firearms, in that it is a felony to possess a plastic
firearm, but a misdemeanor to carry a real firearm concealed on
one's person.
WHEREAS: under current state law, it is not against the law to walk
down the street carrying a firearm, as long as it is visible; the
practical effect of which is to frighten law-abiding citizens.
WHEREAS: while local governments should have the ability to
regulate the use and sale of firearms, there is a need for certain
basic state and federal regulation in the area of firearms in order
to discourage individuals from circumventing the more stringent
laws of one local government by going to another jurisdiction.
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NOW THEREFORE: the City council of the city of santa Monica does
hereby adopt this Resolution, which is in keeping with the City's
goals to protect the well-being and quality of life of its
citizens, and to assure their safety.
The city agrees to take a leadership position on the issue of gun
violence and to work with other elected officials, including the
women who are members of L.A. Elected Women for Violence Reduction,
and school and community leaders in order to create effective ways
to eradicate violence in our communities.
Adopted this 7th day of December, 1993
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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J SEPIl LAWRENCE
A t1ng C1ty Attorney
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Adopted and approved this 7th day of December, 1993.
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I hereby certIfy that the foregOIng ResolutIOn No. 8702 (CCS) was duly adopted
at a meetmg of the CIty CounCIl of the CIty of Santa Moruca on the 7th day of
December, 1993 by the following vote
AYES Councilmembers Vazquez, Rosenstem, Olsen, Holbrook, Greenberg, Genser,
Mayor Abdo
NOES: NONE
ABSTAIN: NONE
ABSENT. NONE
ATTEST:
/~;'f~/ i2~
./'. CIty Clerk "