City OKs Resolution Backing Ban on Assault Weapons, Ammo Magazines

A city resolution supporting the ban of certain assault weapons and high capacity magazines has been sent to all 51 congressional representatives in California to urge their support as well, city leaders tell Patch.

The resolution, which was passed 3-2 Tuesday night, was drafted in response to the recent tragedy at a Newtown, CT elementary school, and a ban on certain weapons being proposed by California Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Feinstein says she'd like to see certain assault weapons and ammunition magazines holding more than ten rounds outlawed on a federal level.  California already has such laws on the books, but Lemon Grove wants to show their support for similar federal laws.

Mayor Teresa Sessom, Councilwoman Racquel Vasquez and Councilman George Gastil all voted in favor of passing the resolution, while council members Jerry Jones and Howard Cook opposed it, according to City Manager Graham Mitchell.

While discussion of the shooting was going on, the issue of local school safety was brought up.  Mitchell says the city and the school district are now planning a discussion to review local safety measures at an upcoming "city/school collaboration meeting."

Mayor Sessom called the special meeting for the resolution, while the city attorney drafted it, Mitchell added.

That special council meeting agenda for Tuesday read: 

"The  City  Council  will  consider  a  resolution  calling  on  the  California  Congressional delegation to  support the legislative proposal of Senator Diane Feinstein to ban certain assault weapons  and ammunition  clips of more than  ten rounds and to  direct the  City Attorney  to  forward  a  copy  of  the  resolution  to  each  member  of  the  California Congressional Delegation before the beginning  of the  113th Congress."

A staff report recommended the council adopt the resolution.  A .pdf copy of the meeting agenda and staff report is attached to this article. 

Feinstein authored a federal ban on assault weapons in 1994; a ban that was allowed to expire by Congress during the George W. Bush administration. 

According to a Reuters report, Connecticut shooter Adam Lanza, 20, used a weapon in the Bushmaster AR-15 family, which is considered an assault weapon.  He then used a handgun to kill himself, police have said.