Father of Isla Vista gunman praises laws signed Tuesday
Reporting from Sacramento — The father of the young man who killed six UC Santa Barbara students in May said that two bills signed by the governor Tuesday might have prevented the tragedy if they had been law.
The governor approved a measure allowing family members and law enforcement officers to seek a restraining order from the courts barring possession of firearms for 21 days if they believe someone is a danger to themselves or others. The governor also signed a bill encouraging law enforcement agencies to develop a process for checking for firearms possession before they contact people at the request of others to check on their welfare.
Family members of gunman Elliot Rodger were concerned about his behavior, but police officers who checked with him were unaware he had purchased guns.
On Tuesday, Peter Rodger, the father of the gunman, praised the new state laws.
“I have the utmost respect for all of those who put so much time and effort getting AB 1014 and SB 505 passed,” Rodger said in a statement. “If both of these laws had been in place on May 23rd, things could have been very different. California, today, is a safer state because of this legislation. Let’s hope other states follow.”
patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com
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