The recent gun violence and mass shootings \u2013 including in Uvalde, Texas where an 18-year-old is accused of shooting and killing 19 elementary school students and two teachers \u2013 have triggered public outrage, marches, and renewed calls for broad legislative action.<\/p>\n
Weighing in on the recent spate of national gun violence, U.S. Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52), whose congressional district includes San Diego beaches, voted to pass the Protecting Our Kids Act and the Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act. The Protecting Our Kids Act builds on the House of Representatives\u2019 twice-passed legislation advancing universal background checks for all gun purchases, an action that is supported by nearly nine out of 10 Americans.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s painful to recognize that the loss of countless innocent lives over decades led us here today,\u201d\u00a0said Peters.\u00a0\u201cPassing these bills\u00a0to prevent more gun violence reflects the will of the American people. Now, we will continue fighting to get additional life-saving legislation over the finish line. I will not rest until the job is done.\u201d<\/p>\n
Added Peters, \u201cThe House also passed the\u00a0Federal Extreme Risk Protection Order Act permitting law enforcement officers, family, and household members of a person who poses a threat to themselves or others to request that a federal court issue an extreme risk protection order to prohibit an individual from purchasing or possessing a firearm.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe bill protects the right to lawfully possess a gun by requiring high standards of proof, an opportunity to be heard in court, the right to counsel, and penalties for those who file frivolous petitions. The legislation also encourages more states to adopt these red flag laws and requires law enforcement to be trained in the use of extreme risk protection orders.\u201d<\/p>\n
Residents in La Jolla and Pacific Beach addressed recent gun violence, what they believe causes it, and what could and should be done about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cSocial media is driving some of this violence,\u201d said Bill Zent of Pacific Beach noting, \u201cKids have cell phones and use them all day on social media. The age for social media should be 18 and require verification.\u201d<\/p>\n
Added Zent: \u201cWhat we can do (about gun violence) is hold parents responsible. If the child obtains a weapon from the home and uses it, they should be charged with murder \u2013 no exceptions. And it should be a federal charge so it\u2019s level across the country. Another problem we have is in situations like the district attorney in Los Angeles turning people back on the street is dangerous. The courts and system must take a tougher stand.\u201d<\/p>\n
Landscape architect Jim Neri, who works both in La Jolla and PB, had an interesting suggestion.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne idea would be for California to hold a gun buy-back drive as they did in Australia,\u201d said Neri. \u201cIt will likely trigger more guns being bought in other states, but we need to lead by example. The state is flush with cash right now, so let\u2019s show the world that California cares.\u201d<\/p>\n
La Jollan Melinda Merryweather believes assault weapons should be severely curtailed. \u201cI am part of the common-sense party and you can not protect any space from an AR-15,\u201d she said. \u201cThey are for wars. Any hunter will tell you you can not eat a dear\u00a0that has been shot with an AR-15. They should be\u00a0illegal and you\u00a0should have to be 21 to buy one and have to wait one year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Larry Emlaw of PB was thankful for the opportunity to vent about gun violence. \u201cGuns today are simply too efficient at killing, and much too easy to procure,\u201d he said.\u201d Laws need to change to account for this ramp-up in \u2018efficient kill\u2019 technology.\u201d<\/p>\n
Emlaw doesn\u2019t have a problem with \u201csomeone who feels the need to own a handgun for protection.\u201d But he asked, \u201cDo they need a 17-round magazine or an AR-style weapon? There is absolutely no reason for the general public to have access to anything this high on the \u2018efficient kill\u2019 totem pole.\u00a0 These are military weapons. And just as we don’t allow any yahoo to keep a surface-to-air-missile system in their garage, neither should we allow these other killing machines. They are all mass kill weapons \u2013 not what our Constitutional framers were contemplating when they added the Second\u00a0Amendment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Concluded Emlaw: \u201cSadly, our gun (non) policy is a reflection of our collective consciousness as a nation, just as our elections are. But everything and everyone is evolving, and gun law change is inevitable. It must happen. Background checks I feel are a no-brainer\u2026 with muscle\u2026 and no loopholes. That would be a great help now, but not the full solution.\u201d<\/p>\n