HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03191991 - S.5 i
TO BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM;
Supervisor Tom Torlakson Contra
Costa
°ATE; March 19, 1991i @ Cpuj/
SUBJECT;
REQUEST REVIEW OF STATE LAWS REGARDING RETURN OF HAND GUNS TO
INDIVIDUALS WITH A.RECORD OF MENTAL PROBLEMS
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SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATI'ON(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
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RECOMIF.NDATION:
Request that the Internal Operations Committee and the Sheriff
review State laws regarding hand gun control that required the
Concord Police Department to return a hand gun to an individual
with reported mental health problems. This review should include
input from the Concord Police Department as it pertains to the
recent shooting incident in the Mt. Diablo School District
involving a former district employee with alleged mental health
problems.
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If the laws are not clear enough now or are too restrictive for the
police to retain weapons in cases where there are reports of mental
health problems or threats of violence, the laws should be changed
to protect the public and give the police greater authority to
confiscate and retain weapons. This review should include a
research of any current bills dealing with hand guns that could be
amended to address thislsubject, or is new legislation needed.
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BACKGROUND:
The shooting incident that recently occurred in the offices of the
Mt. Diablo Unified School District calls attention to the need to
closely review State laws regarding hand guns and other weapons.
In addition to the news accounts, I had the experience of arriving
at the District offices for a meeting moments after the incident.
The employees were obvilously extremely upset and shocked. It is a
miracle that someone was not hurt more seriously or killed. This
is the kind of incident that many of our County offices face as a
recurring nightmare. Our employees deal with individuals in many
sensitive areas and inimany emotional situations. Many County
offices have instituted additional security measures in recent
years, but are still totally vulnerable to the type of horrible
assault that occurred last week. More restrictions would, of
course, not be a total guarantee of protection, but extra measures
will help reduce risks:
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE;
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _ RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER I
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SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON March 19,1 1991 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
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VOTE OF SUPERV19ORS
I ' 1 HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT _II AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT; ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: C. Van Marter, CAO ATTESTED �_ 119 199/
Sheriff-Coroner PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
County Administrator SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
M382."7-83 BY _,DEPUTY
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March 19, 1991
Page Two
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According tolnews accounts, the .individual charged with the
shooting had a history; of mental problems. She had been placed on
"executive leave,, from; the district for ^erratic" behavior and was
eventually fired because she refused to seek psychiatric help,
according to reports . Despite this, she was able to purchase a gun.
(There should have been a check that could have stopped the sale to
start with. ) Then, when her ex-husband turned the gun over to the
Concord police, the police department indicated state law required
that the weapon be returned to her.
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TT:gro
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