The West Hollywood City Council adopted a resolution in support of federal legislation on gun control regulation, to reduce the proliferation of gun violence in the country. The “Resolution in Support of Federal Legislation on Gun Control Regulation” backs the Assault Weapons Ban of 2013 (Senate Bill S.150); the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act (HR 332); the Fix Gun Checks Act (HR 137); the Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act (HR 138); the Gunshow Loophole Closing Act (HR 141); and the Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act (HR 142). The City Council adopted the recent resolution in response to the recent mass shootings of innocent victims which have devastated communities particularly the recent massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut.

“I applaud Senator Feinstein, Congressmember Schiff and Congressmember McCarthy on their dedication to preventing future tragedies like the one in Newtown,” said Mayor Pro Tempore Abbe Land. “This is a big step in preventing the growing instances of mass violence and the time for Congress to act is NOW,” continued Mayor Pro Tempore Land.

Senator Dianne Feinstein’s’ Assault Weapons Ban of 2013, was co-sponsored by 17 other Senators, and updates and strengthens an assault weapons ban that expired in 2004, by stopping the sale, transfer, importation and manufacturing of certain semi-automatic weapons, and large-capacity magazines that accept more than 10 rounds of ammunition. The bill would exclude more than 2,200 specific hunting and sporting rifles owned by law-abiding citizens.

Congressmember Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced HR 332, the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, with 11 co-sponsors. Currently, the gun industry enjoys unique immunity to civil liability due to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) passed in 2005. HR 332 will ensure that gun manufacturers are held accountable for negligence that results in injury or death.

Congressmember Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) introduced four bills containing common sense provisions to promote gun safety: 

• HR 137: The Fix Gun Checks Act would improve the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). By incurring penalties to states that do not make data available to the NICS, the bill would ensure that the most current and complete data is reported and available. 
• HR 138: The Large Capacity Ammunition Feeding Device Act mirrors the provision in Senator Feinstein’s bill which bans feeding devices containing more than 10 rounds. As in Senator Feinstein’s bill, this bill aims to limit the possibility of mass casualties during firearm related incidents. 
• HR 141: The Gunshow Loophole Closing Act would require the private use of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) on all firearms transactions occurring at gun shows or online. Currently, this loophole allows the unregulated sale of firearms to individuals who may have a criminal history or mental health issues. Use of the NICS for these purchases will help to limit this discrepancy. 
• HR 142: The Stop Online Ammunition Sales Act would require face to face purchases for ammunition, enforce federal licensing of ammunition dealers, and require reporting of bulk purchases of ammunition. This bill aims to prevent irresponsible ammunition acquisition, and to increase the transparency of all ammunition purchases.

Eighty percent of all firearm deaths in the developed world occur in the United States where the firearm homicide rate is up to 19.5 times higher than other countries. In addition to the Newtown, Connecticut shooting, additional gun-related massacres in the last year include a shopping mall in Oregon, a Sikh temple in Wisconsin and a movie theater in Colorado.

In 1996, Mayor Pro Tempore Land led West Hollywood to be the first California city to ban the sale of Saturday Night Specials handguns that led 31 other cities to pass similar legislation. The State of California eventually banned these junk guns. In 2007, she co-authored ordinances requiring the mandatory reporting of the theft or loss of firearms, and an ordinance which requires firearm dealers to post warning signs where guns and ammunition are sold.

For more information, please contact Kiran Hashmi, Deputy to West Hollywood Mayor Pro Tempore, Abbe Land at (323) 848-6460.