[answerguy]

The problem of gunfire used to be much in worse in Los Angeles, But, since 1990, all ammunition sales in the weeks leading up to New Year's Eve has been banned. When the law was first instituted, gun shop owners said that it wouldn't work. Statistics would seem to indicate, however, that the regulation has had some positive effect; calls to police about New Year's gunfire fell in L.A. from 706 in 1989 to 265 in 1992.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/framed.htm?parent=question281.htm&url=http://emergency.com/newyr95.htm

Do they really ban ammo sales in LA for several weeks prior to New Year's Eve?

[50 Shooter]

Yes, they do stop the sale of ammo but it's only one week prior and only in L.A.! All you have to do is drive to the next city over and you can buy all you want. :banghead:

[10-Ring]

That's city of Los Angeles, right? You can legally go outside of the city to buy your ammo.

[50 Shooter]

Yes, just get out of L.A. City limits.

I use to live in Canoga Park, I would jump on the Frwy and go to Simi Valley to get my ammo when the pulled this crap.

[Skunkabilly]

Kind of like selling fireworks on the 4th of July?

Gee, that'll stop them!

[Mute]

More likely due to the commercials and posters saying that it's illegal to fire your weapons into the air and that doing so may maim or kill your neighbors.

I seriously doubt the lack of ammo sales is the cause for the drop.

[DnPRK]

Mute is correct. Shooting into the air during holidays is a Latino thing. 20+ years ago, shooting into the air was not that big a problem. It got really bad in the late 1980s-90s when Bush1 and Clinton opened the borders. All Latino radio, TV and newspapers now run public service announcements that it is stupid (and against the law) to do it. The PSAs have helped.

[50 Shooter]

Don't forget that you have to FIND a gun store in L.A. City!:banghead: