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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 01191993 - S.2 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra ..L rJ _LI .:•. FROM: Supervisor Tom PowQrs, First Di$triQt & ;f + Supervisor Jeff Smith, Second District Costa DATE: 1 -19-93 County SUBJECT: Gun Regulations for Contra_Costa County SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)A BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION 1. Try to enlist Contra Costa County city officials, the state legislators and Congress to pass the kind of laws targeting the banning of all types of assault weapons. Also to enact other related legislation which would tend to reduce the number of weapons and ammunition in the hands of irresponsible persons and increase penalties for crimes committed with guns or criminals found with guns. 2. Develop, with Mayors'Conference, model ordinances similar to those proposed in Alameda County and the City of Oakland which require identification, records checking and photographing of all persons who purchase guns of any kind. 3. Develop, with Mayor's Conference, ordinances that would limit the amount of ammunition sold to an individual,require identification, records checking and photographing of persons buying ammunition. 4. Urge that state and federal legislators introduce and pursue strong legislation which would: A. Outlaw the use of any kind of assault weapon, except by members of law enforcement and military organizations. B. Limit the.advertisement of guns and ammunitions, similar to the way cigarette advertising is limited, and, C. Pass a new tax on all guns and ammunition which would be used to educate the public and in particular school age children regarding the dangers, real impact and use of guns. D. Increase penalties �ZW�, j CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: VIM RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURE (S): ACTION OF BOARD ON y 9 3 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER J VOTE OF SUPERVIFiORS I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE UNANIMOUS(ABSENT AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS O THE DATE SHOWN. q CC: County Administrator ATTESTED Supervisor Smith PHIL TCHELOR,CL K OF THE BOARD OF Supervisor Powers SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADIAJNISTRATOR BY DEPUTY 1 .JRN-13-1993 12: 12 FROM DISTRICT 1 SUPERVISOR TO 61396 P.02 ��.OF�L� U � BOARD OF SUPERVISORS December 14, 199? DON PERATA curCAVIC•ThAD o•1KR,T Councilmetnber Donna Powers Richmond City Council Richmond, CA Re: Gun Ordinance Dear Councilmember Powers: Thank you for your interest in the Alameda County pl.oto and fingerprint ordinance. As you know, the county ordinance has only passed its first reading. A second reading has not yet been set, Fending introduction of similar ordinances in the cities of Alameda County. While no city has gone on record with their owr ordinance, Oakland has passed a resolution in support of our ordinance, and is considering their own ordinance this evening. I do riot have the actual text of their law, but urnders=d that it is substantially similar to ours. Berkeley's mayor is interested in an ordinance, but as yet has not moved a proposal onto the Berkeley City Council agenda. The Alameda Conference of Mayors has supported the law as a group. On the other side, the City of Alameda voted down a resolution supporting the county's law, although the council there may be reconsidering that vote, While the mornentum for the ordinance has leveled off, we believe that Alameda County and the cities will be on line with this ordinance early next year. In addition, we hope to introchice state Iegislation hi January,which may help develop political support for the local jurisdictions, L there is anything else we. car,provide to you, please do not hesitate to call. Sincerely, DON PERATA A814POWEAS 122! OAK S—PEET • BU'TE:'6 • 2.4x:12 x.510.271 CZSI.3 - rxx: (510>2624=4 . • ' ""-"I L1JII1� 1 1 JVI L IJUI IU • V1JJU 1 •VJ 1 10 Approved as fo Farm K �1►`jt� H. TY,JR., Cdvnty Covnstf $y. �- ----� - I ORDI."qAItiCE NO. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING Cl-W'I'F.'R 6 OF T'I')7X 3 OF THB ALANXIM- A, COUNTY ORDINANCE CODE BY ADDLNG ART CLU 4=A MOARDING Tan SALB OF MEAKUS 1'he Board of Supervisors of tho County of Alan,eda ordains as follows: SECTION Y Chapter 6,1s hereby an;cnded by addzv Amick 4 — A to read as follows: Article 4 — A — Sale of FLzarms 3-118.0 Findings. The Board of Supervisors of she County of Alareda does herby fid and decla:c as fouows: 1, 7be fght against crime in both the. incorporated and u*.c:orperated areas of Ala.*meda County has always been, and shall forever be, a lop priority Of the County of Alameda; 2, While a firearm alatie Carnot camrnit a c::me, it is an Mfbruaate truth that the commission of crime is of-ten advan=d through the use of fue „ ; 3, The County of Alameda is committed to pursuing available methods of reguleing the possesslort'of firearms in a mar=er&,tet wul deny access of iiresrms to those ind:viduds who are not legally entitled to possess them, 3--118.1 De�nidous, ' 1. As used in this Article, "person'T me= an individual, pamership, corporation, association or any otbrer group or entity, regardless of how it was created. 2, As used in this Article, "licensed firearm dealer" means apersoa who has a federal firearms license, any business License required by the state or a loc. 4 gcy==eatal entity and a seller's permit issued by the State Board of kquai nation. � ViVJV I V� 3-11812 License Requircd. . L Pursuant to Sectioa 12071 of the California Penal Code, the Sheriff of the County of Alameda,as a duly constituted licensing authority of the County of Alameda,is aunhorized to accept applications for, and may grant licenses p,=ic&.g the retail sale of firearms within the unincorporated area of Alameda County; 2. No firearms dealer license shall is:-ue in the absence of corapliazce with all applicable state and county laws and applicable procedures as determin-ed by the Alameda County Sheriffs Department. , 3-118.3 Evidence of Identity In addition to compliance with each of Che Prov:sicrs of Penal Code Section 1 071 no firea'rrt shall be delivered to a prospe dve p=chaser or t<anzferrx urritil the p:ogccTve purchaser or transferee has reported to the Alameda Cec;nty Sheri►f s Depsrt.-rer_t for photographing and fstgcrpeinting and has presented to the Ecrnsed firearms dealer docxnemaron issued by the 'Sheriffs Depart;rtent reflecemB compliar_ce wi;h this section, The precise location or locations for, and hours of availability for, photog;aphir.y and fin€e.pr:.ntiag shO be supplied to licensed dcalcrs by the Alameda County Sheriffs Depa-t nmt for disscminadon to prospective pu:cl asers aid transfe., s. 3-118A Revocation of License. The Sherr'of the County of Alwmeda may revoke for good cause any license issue u.:der this Article. Violadoa of any of the laws of the 'United States or of the State of CaIiforria, or of nay of the provisions of this Article, is good cause for myxaAftn arA termination of any licensed inued under this Article. 3-1I8.5 Severab�:ity. If any provision of this ordinance o;the application tlberwf to any pesos Or ci=M-stz,ce is held invalid that invalidity shall not effect Other provisionLs or applications of the act which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, a.:d to this end the pzovisieas of this act are severable. SECTION U This ordinance shall take effect and be i-t force thirty (30) days from and aster the date of passage, and before the expiration of ffteen (15) days aftwr its passage, shall be published once I ZD FROM DISTRICT I SUPERV I SUk' I U with tha names of the members voting for and agah,Ast the same in the Inter—City Express,,z ith newspaper published in the said County of Alamtda. Adopted by the ]Board of Supervisors of the County of A'.=. e&, Stam of CaVorn.ia, on this �day of by the fbLlowiq ce.'Lled. vote: AYES: Supervisors NOES. Supervisors EXCUSED: Supervisors pMS OiEINT O'P TF.E BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, iCotxty of Alamieda, State of Czl5fornla ATrEST: WrLLIAM TMES�tWFN, Clerk of the Board of&pervissprs, County of Alameda, State of Ca�, Omla By. :1;5/17/02 JAN-13-1993 12: 16 FROM DISTRICT 1 SUPERIJISUR IU b15 b H.wb f t6Ducilb iY couWcit-MamMUIR //74 T "ArrPICT ORDINANCE No. l C. M. S. JPT:cmf AN ORD12MNCZ AMENDING THE ,OAKLAND XUNICIPAL CODL, ADDING CHXDTER a, ARTICLE 10, TO ESTABLISH ADDITIONAL REQUIMMENTS FOA BIREARMI-S DEALERS IN THE CITY 07 QAXLAND WEEREAS, the homicide rate for the city of Oakland in 1991 exceeded all previous yearly totals; and WHEREAS, firearms were used in nearly SO of the homicides committed in the City in 1991 ; and WHEREAS, the average age of gunshot victims is declining, so that over half of the . gunshot victims in Oakland in 1991 were under 25 years of age,• and WENRE"AS, between January 1990 and August 1991, thirty two firearms related homicides involved youths under age 17 ; and WZMREAS, the police department has found that firearms used in violent crimes are often obtained from dealers operating Without- proper pera►lts or through .illegal sales within the City; and WHEREAS, of the total number of firsarms dealers in the City 'of. Oakland that possess federal firearms licenses, as of January 1992 , less than ten percent had aprlied for and obtained a lOCal permit pursuant to City of Oakland requirements; and WXZREAS, the majority of unlicensed firearms dealers eperato from r*sidential areas of the City; and W83RE?.J.. - ye current firearms permitting prodedure has not been effective in limiting cr . cortrollirg the number of unscrzpulous firearms dealers who sell firearms illegally to minors . or to individuals with criminal records; and WHEREAS, the continuing increase in the number of deaths and injuries attributable to firearms is an unacceptable trond that warrants Stricter control over the availability of firearms within the City of Oakland; and WHEREAS, Section I2071 of the California Penal Code provides that municipalities may exercise discretion to grant or JAN-13-1993 12:17 FROM DISTRICT 1 SUPERVISOR TO 61396 P.07 deny applications for permits to sell firearmss and W=P.zAe.q the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) of 1970 and the provisions of the Statement of Objectives, Criteria and Procedure for Implementation of CEQA, have been satisfied and the City Review officer has determined that, in accordance with Section 15061 (b) (3) of the CEQA Guidelines, this Ordinance is exempt from CEQA. The Council of the City of •Oakland does ardain as follows: - Section 1. The Oakland Municipal Code, Chapter 2, is amended to add Article 10 as follows: 11A=TCT6E 10 PERMIT REQUIREMENTS FOR FIREARMS DEALERS MSEC. 2-10 .01 TITLE, This Article shall be known as the Firearms Dealer Permit Ordinance. SEC. 2-10 . 02 FINDINGS . The City Council of the City of Oakland hereby finds that: A. The number of unlicsrsed firearms dealers within the City of Oakland far exceeds the number of legitimate licensed dealers; and H. Firearms used in violent crimes have been traced by the police department to firearms dealers operating without permits within the City; and C. Firearms are used in nearly So% of the homic�des committed in the City; and D. A considerable proportion of the firearms used in violent crimes were obtained illegally from unlicensed firearms dealers; and E. Since- June of 1990, Highland Hospital in Oakland has treated an average of thirty two Oakland residents a month for gunshot wounds, an average of one a day; and F. The average cost for treatment of a gu nshat wound is $33 ,000.00, most of the cost borne by taxpayers. Nearly four hundred gunshot wounds were treated at Highland Hospital in 1991. G. The widespread availability of illegally obtained firearms has resulted in a rise in the number of shooting incidents involving minors; and -2- J1-IIY-1J 177J 1G•10 f F_Iul-I L'1J I Rll.l 1 I V O1J7V I •VV H. Because of the range and arfectivanesm of firearms, the use of firearms in violent crimes is more likely to lead to the death or injury , of bystanders. SEC. 2-10 .03 DEFINIT oNS. The following words and phrases, whenever used in this Article, shall be construed as defined in this section: A. "Firearm" means any device,. •designed to be used as a weapon or modified to be used as a weapon, from which is expelled through a barrel a projectile by the force of an explosion or other form of combustion. B. "Firearms dealer" means a person engaged in the business of selling, tra*nsferring, or leasing, or advertising for sale, transfer, or lease, or offering or exposing for sale, transfer, or lease, any firearm. C. "Engaged in the business" r,eans the conduct of a business by the selling, transferring, or leasing of any firearm; or the preparation for such conduct of business as evidenced by the securing of applicable federal or state licenses; cr the holding of onets self out as engaged in the business of selling, transferring, or leasing of any fireaz=, or the selling, transferring, or leasing of firearms in quantity, in series, or in individual transactions, or in any other manner indicative of trade. D. "Person" means natural person, association, partnership, firm, or corporation. £EC. 2-10 . 04 PER'+i2? REQUIRED. It shall be unlawful for any person, partnership, cooperative, corporation, firm, or association to engage in the business of operating or managing any business which sells, transfers, leases, or offers or advertises far sale, transfer, or lease, any firearm without first obtaining a firearms dealer permit from the Chief of Police of the Oakland Pelice Depatment. SEC. 2-10. 05 APPLICATION-FORMS ; FEES . An applicant for a Permit under this Article shall file with the Chief of Police a sworn application in writing, on a form to be furnished by the , City. The applicant shall provide all information requested, including proof of compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws when required by the Chief of Police, or the application will not be deemed complete. The application shall be accompanied by a non-refundable fee as set forth in the city of 3 JHIY-IJ-1 7..7 1G.17 rMUI11 1 Durr-mvinum. IU 01.770 r,L'J7 Oakland Municipal license/permit fee schedule. To the extent practicablQ, the fee amount shall reflect the cost of enforcing the requirements of this Article. SEC. 2-10.06 AP LSCATIaN-INVES L Tj0N. The Chief of Police shall conduct an appropriate investigation to determine for the protection of the public safety whether the permit may be issued. The Chief of Police may require additional information of an applicant deemed necessary to complete the investigation. SEC. 2-10.07 APPLICATION DENIAL..' • The Chief of Police shall deny the issuance of a permit when any of the following conditions exist: A. The applicant, or an officer, employee, or agent thereof, is under the age of twenty-one years. B. The applicant is not licensed as required by all applicable Federal , State and local laws. C. The applicant, or an officer, employee, or agent thereof, has had a similar type permit previously revoked or denied for good cause within the immediately preceding two (2) years. D. The applicant, or an officer, employee, or agent thereof, has made a false or misleading statement of a material fact or omission of a material fact in the application for a permit. E. The applicant, or an officer, employee, or agent thereof, has been convicted of: (1) Any offense so as to disqualify the applicant, or an officer, employee, or agent thereof, from owning or possessing a firearm under applicable Federal, State, and local laws. (2) Any offense relating to the manufacturing, sale, possession, use, or registration of any firearm or dangerous or deadly weapon. (3) Any offense involving the use of force or violence upon the person of another. (4) Any offense involving theft, fraud, dishonesty, or deceit. (5) Any offense involving the manufacture, sale, possession, or use of any controlled substance as defined by the California Health & Safety Code as said definition now reads or may 4 - STAN-13-1993 12:21 FROM DISTRICT 1 SUPERUISOR TO 61396 P.10 hereafter be amended to read. F. The applicant, or an officer, employee, or agent thiarsof., is an unlawful user of any controlled substance as defined by the California Health & Safety Code as said definition now reads or zay hereafter be amended to read, or is an excessive user of alcohol to the extent that such use would impair his or her fitnesp to be a dealer in firearms. . ' a. The applicant, or an officer, employee, or agent thereof, has been adjudicated as a mental defective, or has been committed to a mental institution, or suffers from any psychological disturbance which would impair his or her fitness to be a dealer in concealable firearms. H. The operation of the business as proposed will not comply with all applicable Federal, State, and local laws . I. The applicant, or an officer, employee, or agent thereof, proposes to operate in the following locations: (1)' Within a zoning district in which general retail sales commercial activities are not a permitted or conditional use. (2) Within a zoning district in which residential use is the principal permitted or Maintained usa, or within one thousand feet of the exterior limits of any such district. (3) Within one thousand feet of a public cr private day care center or day care home, or within one thousand feet of any elementary, junior high, or high school whether public or private, (4) On or within one thousand five hundred feet of the exterior limits of any other premises occupied by a dealer in firearms, an adult entertainment establishment or a hot tub/sauna establishment. J. The applicant, cr an officer, employee, or agent thereof does not have, and cr cannot provide evidence of a possessory interest in the property at which the proposed business will be conducted. .. 5 R. Any ground for denial exists as specified in the Oakland Municipal Code. SEC. 2-10.08 SECURITY. In order to discourage the theft of firearms stored on tha premises of a firearms dealer, any business licensed under this Article must adhere to security measures as required by the Chief of Police. Security measures shall include but not be limited to: A. the provision of secure locks, windgws and doors, adequate lighting, and alarms as specified by the Chief of Police. B. storing of all firearms on the premises out of the reach of customers in secure, locked facilities, so that access to firearms shall be controlled by the dealer or employees of the dealer, to the exclusion of all others. SEC, 2-10. 09 PERMIT FORM. All permits issued pursuant to this Article shall be in the form prescribed by the Attorney General of the State of California. SEC. -1.0 . 10 PERMIT-DURATION; RENEWAL. All permits issued pursuant to this Article shall expire one year after the date of . issuance; provided, however, that such permits may be renewed by the Chief of Police for additional periods of one year upon the approval of an application for renewal by the Chief of Police and payment of the renewal fee. Such renewal application must be received by the Chier of Police, in completed form, no later than forty-five days prior to the expiration of the current Permit. SEC. --10 . 11PER 2'�_T�ASSIGNMENT. The assignment or attempt to assign any permit issued pursuant to this Article is unlawful and any such assignment or attempt to assign a permit shall render the permit null and void. SEC. 2`-10 . 22 PERMIT-CONDITIONS. Any perzit issued pursuant to this Article shall be subject to all of the following conditions, the breach of any of which shall be sufficient cause for revocation of the permit by the Chief of Police: A. The business shall be carried on only in the building located at the street address shown on the license. B. The Permittee shall comply with sections 12073, 12074 , 12076, 12077 and 12082 and subdivision (b) of Section 12072 of the California Penal Coda, to . the extent that the provisions remain in effect. Any permit pursuant to this Article shall be subject to such additional conditions as the Chief of Police finds are reasonably - 6 - related to the purpose of this Article. ABC 2-10 .13 PERMIT-GR U U FOR REVOCATION. In addition to any provisions contained in this Article, any circumstances constituting grounds for denial shall also constitute grounds for revocation. SEC. 2-10. 14 F RMIT-HEA ING. A. Any person whose application for a permit under this Article has been denied, - or whose permit has been revoked pursuant to the provisions of this Article, shall have the right to a hearing before the chief of Police or a designee prior to final denial or prior to revocation. B. The Chief of Police shall give the applicant .or permittee written notice of the intent to deny the application or to revoke the permit. The notice shall set forth the ground or grounds for the Chief of Police's intent to deny the application: or to revoke the permit, and shall inform the applicant or permittee that he or she has ten days from the date of receipt of the notice to file a written request for a hearing. The application may be denied or the permit revoked if a written hearing request is not received within the ten-day period. C. If the applicant or permittee files a timely hearing, request, the Chief of Police shall set a time and place for the hearing. All parties involved shall have the right to offer testimonial, documentary and tangible evidence bearing on the issues, to be represented by counsel, and tc confront and cross examine any witnesses against them. The decision of the Chief of Police whether to deny the application: or revoke the permit is final and nonappealable. SEC. 2-14. 15 FERMIT-LIABILITY INSURANCE. No permit shall be issued or continued pursuant to this Article unless there is in full force and effect a policy of insurance in such form as the City Attorney deems proper, executed by an insurance company approved by the City Attorney whereby the applicant or permittee is insured against liability for damage to property and for injury to or death of any person as a result of the sale, transfer er lease, or advertising for sale, transfer, cr lease, or offering or exposing for sale, transfer, or lease, any firearm. The z nimum liability limits shall not be less than one million dollars ($1,000,000) for damage to or destruction of property in any one incident, and one million dollars ($1, 000, 000) for the death or injury to any one person; provided, however, that additional _ 7 _ :. JAN-13-1993 12 24 FROM DISTRICT 1 SUPERVISOR TO 61396 P.13 1b amounts may be required by the City Attorney, if deemed necessary. Such policy of insurance shall contain an endorsement providing that the policy will not be canceled until notice in writing has been given to the City, addressed in care of the Chief of Police, 455 - 7th Street, Oakland, California, 94607, at least thirty days immediately prior to the time suc* cancellation becomes effective. Further, such policy of insuran• shall name the city, its officers, agents, and employees as itional insurers. Additionally, applicants and permittees shall 'ndemnify, defend, and hold harmless the City, its officer, and employees, from claims arising from the neglige . :e of .he applicant or permittee. SEC. 2-10. 16 PERMIT-AUTHORITY TO INSPECT. Any and all investigating officials of the City shall have the right to enter the building designated in the permit from time to time during ' regular business hours to make reasonable inspections to observe and enforce compliance with building, mechanical, fire, electrical, plumbing, or health regulations, and provisions of this Article. A police investigator may conduct compliance inspections to insure conformance to all Federal, State, and local law, and all provisions of this Article. SEC. 2-3.0. 17 COMPLIANCE. Any person engaging in the business of selling, transferring, or leasing, or advertising for sale, transfer, or lease, or offering or exposing for. sale, transfer, or lease, any firearm on theeffective date of this Article shall have a period of 60 days after such effective date to comply with the provisions of this Article. SEC. 2-10 . 18 TEMPt_RARY SUSPENSION OF PERKIT TO SELL A. If the dealer violates any Federal , state and local County or city law, the Chief of Police may immediately suspend the right of the dealer to sell. firearms. This temporary suspension will not exceed 3 days, if the violation results in a criminal charge tiled in court by a Federal, State, or County District Attorney such permit to Bell firearm may be suspended until the case is adjudicated in a court of law. E. Notice of suspension shall be mailed to the person (s) who made application for the permit and shall be delivered to the address listed on the Permit. 5MC. 2-10.19 SEVERASIL:TTY. This Article shall be enforced to the full extent of the authority cf the City of Oakland. it any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence or word of this Article is deemed to be invalid or beyond the authority of the City of Oakland, either on its face or as appliad, the invalidity of such provisian shall not affect the other sections, subsections, paragraphs, sentences, ' or words of this Article, and the applications thereof; and to that end the section, subsections, paragraphs, sentences and words of this Ar-i"cle shall be doomed severable. " Section 2 . The city Council mak-s the •ollowing findings in support of adoption of this ordinance A. This ordinance is necesf•-z i to protect the public hialth, safety and welfare; -d, H. The findings set forth in S9ction 2-9. 02 are true and correct . and provide a further basis for this Ordinance. Section 3 . Tha City Council finds and d$termines that thin Ordinance complies with the California Environmental Quality Act and all local CEQA implementing regulations. The City's Review Officer is directed to file a Notice of Exemption with the Alameda County Clark. Section 4 . This Ordinance shall be effective bo days from date of p,as9age. 2 Cox-aly that the fs;raq*ias La a fz:l:., t----* e--V e: as 0z'r3 es Passed by the City C,-uae!.1 of ths CStf of aaklane., Csl.if=Z=J.& es City CSdt--.k 1 e= toured to crime r-ite w - a shocked inner-city testi w so ago. 51 • Shots: `�tS: 3���� The Past year has si, GIIII&e -:, is for us to be impresse irbwads greet 93 more• Remember the I who called the Los Al • .11��1E'rS IIl_Y"' Continued from B-� "wake-up call"? well, pear to have punched: "Our libem?depends on fluerlom of fin' ne-�T r ' ;the press a;ul that cannot be limited I remember it well: r � -►,rithout being lost." ing days Iasi spring we: Thomas Jefferson velous window of dials nationwide wails of READERs FORLM . dreams. one day this last fall at Adams Mid- Using games and dialogue, re- dIe'School. Between 50 and 60 per- We can' flection and honesty, Challenge Day cent of the Challenge Day students shows students they can work to- have been shot or have a friend or have ��� getl er without fear, antagonism or relative who was hit a tudents�oierce, understand and feel each Over 90 percent of the students other's problems, and most impor- have been hit or struck by a parent. tantly, choose to help each other Between 50 percent and 60 percent with dren h support and kindness. of the students have a friend or rela- c1�1 Challenge Day reminds students tive who has a drug-dependency they can and do hurt each other if problem. About 30 percent of the they are mean,insensitive or fearful children knew someone .who at- of others. Challenge Day gives stu- tempted,or had tried themselves,to guns dents a good look at the possibility commit suicide. of "we" as well as the reality of At the end of Cross the Line; America possesses a trove of cre- "them-versus-us." speaking to each other in a giant dos and dogmas supporting popular My experience suggests that peo- circle, the.students told how they gun ownership. During 1992, thev Pie with conventional and old-lash- .would change the world. Over 80 have been thoroughly aired by local ioned ideas about personal freedom percent said they would stop the vi- writers to the Times, and gun ownership will not appreci- olence in their communities. The Given this dogma,these is one is- ate games and dialogue as a method students spoke emotionally, from sue ask the community trecon- of creating trust and respect. But the heart. Some spoke of violence sI sue as guns and youth, and the one Challenge Day activity provides personally suffered.Others spoke of characterization of consequential old-fashioned thinkers with the stiff violence they had seen.Several said school violence as a them-versus-us dose of reality they need;it is called, they wanted to stop the violence so i Cross the Lne." they would never have to go to an- problem. Cross the Line forces the Stu- other friend's funeral. Many people seem to believe dents to become us-and-them in a Paraphrasing an ancient ques- school violence is the unique realm changing and unpredictable way. tion, "If a child asks for peace, of "gangbangets": children without Sometimes you are an "us," other would you give that child a gun?" morality, children who are not the times you are a "them." You find For the sake of the children, we true heirs of America. out that everyone has been a adults must change- We must give Unfortunately, us-versus-them is "them,"everyone has been an "us." up our hypocritical concept of self- ! an old-fashioned and common Welt- Everyone has been hurt by their reliant "protection" and decide if. anschauung. It needs an antidote, a personal experiences. Everyone has we will protect our children or aur large dose of contemporary reality. hurt others. Cross the Line also guns. it appears we can't do both. So, consider Challenge Day at shows students they can be eompas- James S.Young Adams Middle School in Richmond. sionate and caring. El Cerrito Challenge Day takes an entire So, conventional, old-fashioned school day, skillful leadership and gun-owning America, here's your pjiyatiZe Schools about 100 students with all their dose of reality from 100 students problems, potential, fears and and adults who Crossed the Line President-elect Bill Clinton re. TOTAL P.15