Association of Bay Area Governments
Representing City and County Governments of the San !rancisfo Bay Area

ABAC

July 30, 1996

CounciImember Margie Fernandes
City ofSan Jose
City Hall
801 N, First Street, Room 600
San Jose, CA 95110
Dear Councilmember Fernandes:

On July 18,the ABAC Executive Board received a report from Shirley Dean, Mayor of Berkeley and
Chair ofthe East Bay Public Safety Corridor Partnership, on the important progress cities and counties
along the I-80/I-880 corridor in the East Bay are making toward the adoption of critical restrictions on
hand guns.

To date, 15 cities in the East.Bay are working to adopt ordinances banning junk guns, 14 cities have
prohibited gun dealers from operating out of homes in residential areas, five cities have passed
ordinances requiring trigger locks at point ofsale and two cities have adopted gross receipts tax on all

items sold by gun dealers. In addition. City Attorneys have suggested the creation ofajoint legal
defense fund to assist any jurisdiction facing a legal challenge to an ordinance.
The Executive Board was both impressed and appreciative ofthe model effort underway in the East Bay
and encouraged to hear that other groups of local governments had contacted the East Bay cities to
request information on their process and progress to date. After a full discussion ofthe importance of
unified action, the Executive Board voted to issue a resolution (see the enclosed) urging local
governments throughout the Bay Area to adopt ordinances to: 1)ban the sale ofjunk guns; 2)zone gun
dealers out ofresidentiial areas; and 3)require gun dealers to install trigger locks at the point ofsale.
More importantly, the Executive Board asked that local governments work together to craft ordinances

and enforcement procedures that are consistent, enforceable, constitutional, and capable of withstanding
legal challenge. For information on ordinances and other information, see ABAG’s Junk Gun Homepage
(http://www.abag.ca.gov/bayarea^unkguns/guncont.htm).

We hope to hear soon that yourjurisdiction has passed its own ordinance addressing one or more ofthese
critical issues. To assist us in monitoring and sharing such information with other agencies, please send
us copies ofany action you take in this area. If you have questions or would like to update ABAG on
your own progress in this area, please call Patty Spangler, ABAG,at(510)464-7933.
Sincerely,
a/.

Charlotte Powers, ABAG President
Councilmember, City ofSan Jose
enc.

Mailing Address:

P.O.Box 2050

Oakland,California 94604-2050

Location:

Joseph P. Bort MetroCeriler

lOi Eighth Street

(510)464-7900

Fax:(510)464-7970

Oakland,California 94607-4756

info@abag.ca.gov

Resolution 11-96

ASSOCIATION OF BAY AREA GOVERNMENTS
EXECUTIVE BOARD

RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE BAN OF “SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIALS

WHEREAS,“Saturday Night Specials”, or junk guns, are cheap, easily-

concealed, and poorly- manufactured weapons that are disproportionately represented in
homicides and other crimes and lack any sporting purpose;

WHEREAS,junk guns are so inadequately designed and constructed that their
use, particularly with higher-power ammunition now readily-available, represents a
danger to the criminal or other user;

WHEREAS,crime statistics indicate that a high proportion of gun-related deaths

and injuries are attributable to both the availability of weapons in residential areas and the
lack of trigger locks which could forestall the firing of a weapon;
WHEREAS, many local governments in the Bay Area are considering or have

already adopted ordinances or regulations prohibiting the sale ofjunk guns, zoning gun
shops out of residential areas, and requiring gun dealers to install trigger locks at the
point of sale;

WHEREAS,crime respects no urban boundaries and the availability of weapons
m one

jurisdiction may easily be used in a neighboring or distant community;

NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED that the Executive Board of the
Association of Bay Area Governments supports the adoption of local government

ordinances to prohibit the sale ofjunk guns,to zone gun dealers out ofresidential areas,
and to require gun dealers to install trigger locks at the point of sale.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Executive Board urges all Bay Area

local governments to guarantee the effectiveness ofthese ordinances by working in close
consultation with neighboring jurisdictions to develop consistent and muform ordinance
provisions and enforcement procedures.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 18th day of July, 1996.
SIGNED:

Charlotte Powers, President

Eug^e Y. Leoffg, Secretary-Tre^urer