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Home My WebLink AboutStaff Report 4.B 1/28/2013 L 'I` A.Ari ,tf IB , „ DATE;: January 28, 2013 t TO Honorable Mayor and Members of the Cit • cil 414iii■W FROM: John C. Brown,,City Malik:— • SUBJECT: Resolution Supporting the Reinstatement of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban; a Ban on the Sale, Transfer, Importation, or Manufacturing of Military-Style Assault Weapons and;Large-Capacity Ammunition Feeding Devices; and Calling on the'California Congressional Delegation to Support Legislation Proposed by, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein to Implement These Measures. (Glass) RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council consider the attached Resolution Supporting the Reinstatement of the Federal Assault'Weapons Ban; a Ban on the Sale, Transfer, Importation, or Manufacturing.of Military-Style:Assault Weapons and:Large-Capacity Ammunition Feeding Devices and Calling on the California Congressional Delegation to Support Legislation Proposed by U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein to Implement These.Measures and take action as .appropriate. BACKGR 1 JND Q.n December 14, 2012, twenty children and six adult'staff members'were shot and killed, and - • • two additional were wounded, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in the town of Newtown, Connecticut. U S.. Senator Dianne Feinstein will`be introducing the Assault Weapons Regulation Act in the U.S;. Senate in February`that will reinstate and.strengthen the assault weapons ban that,she sponsored in 1994 while protecting the rights of legitimate hunters and existing gun owners. Senator Feinstein is seeking letters of support from California mayors and resolutions'from City Councils that would support this'legislation prior to its introduction. Two members of the City Council have requested that this item be;placed before the.Council for consideration and possible action. To accommodate the timing of the Senator's request, I have placed this matter on your agenda for January 28, 20'1.3, for action prior to the end of the month. ATTACHMENTS .1. Resolution; .2. Letter of Support'from Mayor Glass Agenda Review:; City Attorney Finance Director ;' City Manager b, ' it • ATTACHMENT 1 r . RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA SUPPORTING THE REINSTATEMENT OF THE FEDERAL ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN; A BAN ON THE SALE, TRANSFER, IMPORTATION, OR MANUFACTURING OF MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS AND LARGE-CAPACITY AMMUNITION FEEDING DEVICES,; AND CALLING IN THE CALIFORNIA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION PROPOSED BY U.S. SENATOR DIANNE FEINSTEIN TO IMPLEMENT THESE MEASURES WHEREAS, in 1994 Congress enacted an assault weapons ban that,prohibited d the sale of g p p certain semi-automatic weapons in order to reduce levels of violence in the United,States; and WHEREAS, in 2004;the assault weapons ban expired by operation of law and,to this date., has not been renewedby.Congress; and WHEREAS, since the 2004 expiration of'the ban, assault•we.apons have been used in at least 459 incidents, resulting.in 385 deaths and 455 injuries; and, WHEREAS, in recent years,random, mass gun violence has made the names of communities such as Tucson, Arizona Aurora, Colorado, Virginia Tech, and Newtown > 9 g Newtown, Connecticut synonymous with senseless loss of life and severe injuries;and WHEREAS, weapons of war do not belong on our streets, in our theaters,shopping malls and, most of all, our schools; and WHEREAS, U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein has introduced„legislation to reinstate and strengthen the assault.Weapons ban that,she sponsored in 199,4 while protecting the rights of legitimate,hunters and existing gun owners. NOW THEREFORE, the City Council,of the.City of Petaluma, California hereby resolves that: • 1. The City of Petaluma supports Senator Feinstein's assault weapons ban.legislation. • 2. The City Council authorizes the City Clerk to:forward this Resolution to the California Congressional delegation of the 1:13thi Congress. 3. The-California.'del.egation of the. 11311' Congress be urged to consider a federal assault" weapons ban as the first step in addressing violence in our communities. • (9./ • • ATTACHMENT 2 rp� • ,0Al�r%\ fl `' I rt U__•7 „'�t;' •® f` POST OFFICE BOX 61 s 8 5 , PFTALUMA,CA.94953-'0061 David Glass Mayor January 17, 2013.. The Honorable:Dianne Feinstein United States Senator 330.Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Senator Feinstein: This.letter is to express my, support of your legislation on the Assault.Weapons Ban, to reinstate.the..ban rnilitary-style.assault weapons and large-capacity ammunition feeding devices. In recent years incidents of mass gun violence, including the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut, have served as terrible reminders of the senseless loss of life and extreme arm these weapons are capable of Semi-automatic and high-capacity assault`weapons have no place on our streets, in our shopping malls and theaters, and most of all, in our schools Your bill offers a sensible solution that will take these weapons out of our cities and neighborhoods while protecting the rights of legitimate hunters,and current gun owners. I support this common-sense gun safety measure to protect our communities and reduce violence. Please add my name/organization to the list of those endorsing your bill to ban assault weapons. Sincerely, David Glass Mayor of Petaluma Petaluma City Hall �'" L.1'English,Street Petaluma, CA 94952 Phone(707)7.78.-4345 Fax(707)778-4419 E-Mail daveglass@comeast.net .