MONTEREY PARK, Calif. (KNX) – California officials proposed three new laws aimed at preventing gun violence in the state.
Monday’s news conference was held at Monterey Park, where 11 people were killed in a mass shooting in January.
Assemblyman Mike Fong, who drafted the proposal, was joined by Prosecutors Alliance founder Cristine Soto DeBerry, Mayor Jose Sanchez, and Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón.
One of the proposed laws would try to ensure that guns are taken away more quickly from people who are not allowed to have them, such as criminals with certain convictions.
“As of January 2023 there backlog of nearly 24,000 cases,” Assemblyman Fong said.
Another law would prohibit that police from selling guns which could end up right back on the streets.
“We know that often local and state agencies sell surplus weapons, body armors and ammunition and we believe the government should not be in that business,” Gascón said.
The third law would ensure a translator is present when emergencies strike at communities that have a large number of residents speak a language other than English.
“It has absolutely no use when we are communicating in languages that the majority of the people in that community do not fully understand,” Gascón said.
Assemblyman Fong said these three bills are crucial to putting an end to gun violence.
"Lawmakers are the ones who have the power to end this plague, and I'm proud to take leadership on this effort to help get weapons off our streets," he said.
"I look forward to working in partnership with the Prosecutors Alliance of California and gun safety advocates to pass these measures."
City News service contributed to this article.
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