BY

MARIN COUNTY HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

September 14, 1999

Whereas, the Marin County Human Rights Commission is concerned that gun violence in our society has been a tragic epidemic and,

Whereas, for the first time in history more people die from gunshot wounds than from car accidents and,

Whereas, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, an American teenager is more likely to die of a gunshot wound than of all other natural causes combined and,

Whereas, neither Marin County nor any city in Marin County has passed an ordinance banning the sale of "Saturday night specials" or junk guns," assault weapons and,

Whereas, 40 California cities have passed legislation banning "junk guns" and,

Whereas, neither Marin County nor any city in Marin County has passed an ordinance mandating that all firearms sold must have trigger locks and,

Whereas, research indicates that trigger locks reduce the threat of accidental shootings and,

Whereas, neither Marin County nor any city in Marin County as passed an ordinance requiring firearm dealers to register with the county sheriff or local police departments and,

Whereas, neither Marin County nor any city in Marin County has passed an ordinance prohibiting firearm dealers from operating in public facilities, near residences and other "sensitive’ areas such as schools, churches, and day care centers and,

Whereas, neither Marin County nor any city in Marin County prohibits gun shows on count property and,

Whereas, neither Marin County nor any city in Marin County has passed an ordinance requiring firearm dealers to have liability insurance and,

Whereas, neither Marin County nor any city in Marin County has passed an ordinance requiring background checks on firearm store employees and,

Whereas, ordinances covering one or all of these issues have been effectively implemented in these California cities: Alameda, Albany, Anaheim, Antioch, Artesia, Berkeley, Beverly Hills, Calexico, Campbell, Colma, Daly City, Danville, El Cerrito, Escondido, Fontana, Fremont, Half Moon Bay, Hayward, Hercules, Imperial Beach, Lafayette, Livermore, Los Angeles, Merced, Monterey park, national City, Norwalk, Oakland, Pacific Grove, palm Desert, Palo Alto, Pasadena, Piedmont, Pinole, Pleasanton, Porterville, Redding, Richmond, Sacramento, Salinas, San Francisco, San Jose, San Leandro, San Mateo, San Pablo, Santa Ana, Santa Monica, Solano Beach, Stockton, Union City, Vacaville, Walnut Creek, West Hollywood and,

Whereas, the Legal Community Against Violence (LCAV) is available to provide technical and legal assistance in drafting a firearms-related ordinance,

Therefore, Be it Resolved, that the Marin County Human Rights Commission join in the county-wide, grassroots effort to support responsible limits on gun access and use,

Be it further resolved, the Marin County Human Rights Commission urge that the Marin County Board of Supervisors and all cities in Marin County consider and adopt gun control ordinances in order to make the county and the state a safer and healthier place.

Prepared by:

Carole Hayashino, Vice Chair,

Marin County Human Rights Commission

Unanimously Adopted by the Marin County Human Rights Commission