HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 01241989 - S.3 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Contra
FROM: Supervisor Tom Torlakson
Costa
DATE: January 24, 1989 County
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SUBJECTS STPPORT FOR LEGISLATION BANNING TM SALE OF
SM-AUTOKATIC WEAPONS
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
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RECONCENDED ACTIN: Request the County Administrator to
write a letter in behalf of the Board strongly urging our legislative
delegation to support a ban on semi-automatic weapons.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The ease with which an individual
can purchase the type of assault—weapon that was used to kill five
school children in Stockton is startling and absolutely appalling.
Buyers must merely sign a form and if they indicate they are not
mentally ill, a felon, a fugitive, an illegal alien, or a drug user
and are at least 18 years old, they can buy the gun and acquire it
that same day. Purchasing a handgun requires a 15-day waiting period.
It is incredible that these semi-automatic assault weapons can be so
easily acquired. I can see no normal or social purpose for the
average citizen owning one of these weapons. Most police representa-
tives feel the same way. Police officers are certainly at risk when
they come up against drug dealers armed with this kind of fire power.
A ban on semi-automatic weapons would not necessarily have
prevented the Stockton disaster nor would it stop drug dealers from
obtaining these weapons, but I believe it would be a logical step in
gun control that has the potential of reducing the number of deaths of
civilians and police officers by those individuals who would use the
rapid fire power against society.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENTS YES SIGNATUREtt'
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON Januar y , APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
APPROVED as recommended . As recommended by Supervisor Powers , the Board
REQUESTED the Sheriff to report on investigative procedures in place , including
a recommendation for a more intensive screening process , directed toward
individuals purchasing semi -automatic weapons .
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT --- ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: County Administrator ATTESTED January 24 , 1989
Sheriff-Coroner Phil Batchelor, Clerk of the Board of
Supervisors and County Admla'asUaW
M382/7-OS BY �' �� . DEPUTY