LOS ANGELES -- Angelenos convicted of certain misdemeanor crimes would be prohibited from owning a firearm under a motion proposed Thursday by two Los Angeles City Council members who are seeking to expand an existing state law.
The motion by Jack Weiss and Janice Hahn would ban individuals convicted of carrying a concealed weapon, possessing an assault weapon, burglary or gang crimes from owning a gun for 10 years.
"Although crime is down in Los Angeles, there is still too much gun violence with 138 victims of gun violence already this year, and 90 of those crimes were gang-related," Weiss said. "It's time for more aggressive and more creative measures to stop the killing."
State law already prohibits individuals found guilty of certain misdemeanors from owning, possessing or purchasing firearms for 10 years from the date of their conviction.
"We know that many hardened criminals start out by committing misdemeanors, and this will be an important step in curtailing more serious criminal activity," Hahn said.
