Mayor offers package of gun control laws
He seeks to prohibit firearms possession on city property
Cecilia M. Vega, Chronicle Staff Writer
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Mayor Gavin Newsom quietly introduced a package of gun control measures on Tuesday that would make it illegal to possess guns on city-owned property and require residents to store handguns in locked containers.
But, even some of the legislation's co-sponsors conceded the proposals will have little effect on the proliferation of illegal guns on San Francisco streets.
Newsom, who plans to formally announce the measures at a press conference in the Bayview district today , said there "needs to be common sense restrictions on gun ownership."
"We should continue our efforts to restrict the use of legal guns and we will continue our efforts to stem the tide of illegal guns," Newsom said.
The measures would make it illegal to possess or sell guns or ammunition on any city-owned property, including parks and public buildings. Residents would also be required to keep handguns locked in a container or be disabled with a trigger lock.
Though there is only one gun store located in San Francisco, the legislation targets licensed dealers by requiring them to provide police with an inventory list every six months so that authorities could keep track of how many guns are sold.
"It's about that one gun shop and making a statement to anyone who's thinking about opening up," said District Attorney Kamala Harris, who is one of several politicians who have signed on to co-sponsor the legislation.
"It's focused on making it as inconvenient and as difficult as possible for people to possess guns in a way that people will be harmed," she added.
The measures also would create a local registry of people who are convicted in San Francisco of gun-related offenses.
Supervisor Sophie Maxwell, another co-sponsor, whose district includes the Bayview, conceded the overall effect of the legislation is "small, but at least it's something."
In 2005, the mayor expressed lukewarm support for Proposition H, a measure that would have made it illegal to buy and sell firearms and ammunition in the city. Though 58 percent of voters passed the measure, it is being appealed in court after a challenge by the National Rifle Association. Newsom had said the measure amounted to "a public opinion poll."
Now that he is campaigning for re-election in November, some of his City Hall critics questioned Newsom's timing.
"It's just election-year pandering," Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin said.
Supervisor Chris Daly, who spearheaded Prop. H and regularly opposes Newsom, said he was glad to see the mayor focusing on gun control.
"I'm glad the mayor has finally figured out that San Franciscans are for strong gun control in the city," Daly said. "I would have preferred more support for the handgun ban."
E-mail Cecilia M. Vega at [email protected].
Use a copy of the Constitution for TP this morning Ms. Harris?
