pages: CityCouncil/2020-03-03.pdf, 19
This data as json
body | date | page | text | path |
---|---|---|---|---|
CityCouncil | 2020-03-03 | 19 | firearm; Police would have video of a person making a legal firearm purchase; the straw purchase would be proven through investigation away from camera capture. Councilmember Vella inquired whether the City currently provides storage units in private vehicles for police officers. The Police Chief responded in the negative; stated a restrictive policy is in place about how Officers store guns while on or off duty. Councilmember Vella discussed an acquaintance arrested on gun charges; stated that the acquaintance stored firearms for someone else in storage units; noted the current ordinance language does not cover said instance; inquired whether storage units have been considered as part of the safe storage policy; whether the City could prohibit guns being stored in a storage facility, or if there is a way to regulate storage in storage units; stated storage units are often used to store firearms in an unlocked manner. The City Attorney responded should the Council be interested in regulating gun storage beyond residential premises, the recommendation will continue to require safe storage instead of prohibiting storage altogether; prohibiting storage altogether is more legally challenging. Councilmember Vella expressed support for passing the ordinance as-written and having staff look at the commercial storage aspect and return to Council at a later date; stated that she is learning many things as a new mom; she now considers whether other children's families keep weapons in their home and if they are safely stored; many sad cases involve children playing with firearms that have not been safely stored; expressed support for Council preventing those instances; stated Council should take this step; the ordinance will not solve all cases, but it is a step in the right direction; noted a statistic from the DA report; stated stolen guns can be used in crimes; there are cases of teenagers stealing guns from parents or parents of friends; stated straw purchases are an issue; many times a youth has stolen a weapon from another household; requiring safe storage means that people are aware of where they are storing their firearms; one cannot be had without the other; if safe storage is not required, weapons are not being kept track of and it is difficult to know when an item is stolen and needs to be reported; the City has held at least two forums on the topic; the area of law is evolving; that she anticipates additional laws to come; expressed support that any policy to be able to be enforced and to follow up on enforcement; stated that she does not want empty promises made to the community. Vice Mayor Knox White stated staff is working with Big 5 on the concept provided by Councilmember Daysog; questioned why the information was not in the staff report; expressed support for the proposed language provided; stated that he would like to ensure people have access to legal firearms for personal safety reasons; keeping firearms in the residence makes sense for greater awareness versus somewhere not often visited such as a shed; should there be desire to move forward with criminal penalties, there should be annual reporting; expressed support if administrative Regular Meeting Alameda City Council 16 March 3, 2020 | CityCouncil/2020-03-03.pdf |