Stiffer U.S. gun laws sought on third anniversary of Sandy Hook massacre

Reporting from Sacramento —  On the third anniversary of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, some gun industry and law enforcement leaders called Monday for the federal government to close a loophole that allows thousands of people to buy firearms each year without background checks.

Those supporting an end to gridlock in Congress on background check legislation included Chris Kitaeff, a gun show dealer from Phoenix; Joe Deaser, owner of Capital Gun Club in Roseville, Calif.; Capitola, Calif., Police Chief Rudy Escalante and Yolo County Sheriff Ed Prieto.

“Background checks are not gun control in any form. They are people control,” said Deaser at a public hearing held by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena). “We are keeping bad people from having guns.”

Thompson convened the hearing at the state Capitol as chairman of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, noting that Congress has had 25 moments of silence but has not approved any gun safety bills since a lone gunman killed 20 children and six adults at the school in Newtown, Conn.

The hearing was held less than two weeks after 14 people were killed and 21 wounded in an attack by two shooters at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino.

Thompson is trying to drum up public pressure for action on legislation he has co-written that would require background checks on would-be buyers of guns sold outside the network of licensed gun dealers, including sales at gun shows or through the Internet.

“Before someone gets a gun there should be some measure to ensure they are not criminals, they are not domestic abusers, they are not dangerously mentally ill,” Thompson said at the hearing attended by more than 30 people. “The idea that this is somehow anti-2nd Amendment is absolutely crazy.”

Kitaeff also called for closing a loophole in the law that allows guns to be transferred to buyers if the background check is not completed in three business days.

“That means thousands of guns can be sold to potentially dangerous people each year,” said Kitaeff, a board member with Arizonans for Gun Safety. He said he voluntarily withholds firearms from buyers until the background check is complete and he called on other firearms dealers to do the same.

The loopholes in the law mean that about 40% of firearms purchased in this country are bought without background checks, according to Police Chief Escalante, who is chairman of the California Police Chiefs Assn.’s Committee on Firearms.

He and Sheriff Prieto testified in favor of universal background checks as an effective way of keeping firearms out of the hands of violent felons and mentally ill people deemed a danger to society.

Escalante also praised California for groundbreaking laws including one taking effect Jan. 1 that allows law enforcement and family members to petition a judge to temporarily remove guns from individuals seen as a risk to themselves or others.

The shooters involved in mass killings in Tucson; Aurora, Colo.; and Isla Vista, Calif.; were able to legally get guns because they were not on a government list of those disqualified because of severe mental health problems.

“They were dangerous and there were people around them who knew they were dangerous,’’ said Amanda Wilcox, legislative and policy chairwoman of the California Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Prieto said improving education for young people so they get high school degrees is one thing that can be done to reduce gun violence involving street gangs.

“I truly believe gang violence is one of the biggest issues facing society, which includes guns,” Prieto told the panel.

Sam Paredes, head of Gun Owners of California, said more gun control will affect only law-abiding gun owners, and the government would do better to address issues including the need for improved mental healthcare.

He noted that 1.5 million guns have been purchased so far in California this year, up from 1.47 million bought in all of last year.

“The public is voting on the gun issue by buying them,” he said.

California has some of the toughest gun laws in the country but that “is not stopping the violence here in California,” said Craig De Luz of the California Assn. of Federal Firearms Licensees.

He said criminals will not abide by new gun control laws. “Terrorists,” he added, “are not going to obey the law either.”

ALSO

California delegation pushes for action on gun control

‘Culture bundling’ and other obstacles to a real gun control debate

Democrats campaigning aggressively on gun control, dropping longtime reticence

Why go without a fight? Congress heads toward the last budget battle of the year

California members stall business on House floor as Democrats try to force gun control votes

In Texas, gun rights supporters demonstrate with fake shooting

Connecticut wants its own gun sale ban based on terrorism watch lists