Backers of the measure said it will keep children safer in the nation’s second-largest city by reducing the chances of a child grabbing a handgun and accidentally killing someone else or themselves. “This only impacts law-abiding citizens”.
Advertisement
“This is not going to inconvenience a single person in our city”, said Krekorian, “but it is going to save lives”.
Asked if he was concerned the provisions could create ambiguity in the law, Krekorian said the intent of the law is to make sure the guns are always in a person’s control whenever they are not disabled or locked away.
If the courts do not grant a stay of enforcement of the ordinance, residents must surrender their magazines to police, modify them, or sell them by November 18. “We will vigorously fight this attempt to thwart the democratic process, and I’m confident we will prevail”.
A group of California sheriffs and two state gun groups last week sued the city over the magazine ordinance. “Tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands”, of Californians now possess the banned magazines, the plaintiffs claim, including those who live in Los Angeles or frequently travel through the city”, the sheriffs say in the complaint.
A few who have been pushing for the gun storage law said they were uneasy with the provisions. “The city’s possession band effectively land locks numerous individuals who are unable to transport their magazine anywhere without traveling through Los Angeles”, the complaint states.
The California Reserve Police Officers Association, whose members work with law enforcement agencies, is also challenging the magazine ban in the lawsuit.
Advertisement
The measure is expected to be signed by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, and would go into effect 30 days later. They seek declaratory judgment, writ of mandate and an injunction staying enforcement of the ban.
