Gun Bills Praised at Isla Vista Event
Assemblyman Das Williams and State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, flanked by other elected officials, and parents who lost children in a murder rampage earlier this year, told the Isla Vista community it will be safer with new laws now on the books.
Both worked quickly in Sacramento on legislation after the stabbing and shooting spree last May involving crazed resident Elliot Rodger, that ended with seven dead and 13 wounded. All were college students.
What normally would take eight months to go through the process, made it to the Governor’s desk in four months with no delays.
Williams authored AB 1014, and Jackson authored Senate Bill 505.
The effort won praise from Richard Martinez who lost his son Christopher in the shooting spree that passed by the I.V. Deli.
“People need to understand this law is available. If friends have concerns they need to contact immediate family members who can invoke this procedure,” said Martinez.
One law helps family members use the courts to disarm someone who has a gun and is a risk. It could save their life and the lives of other.
The other urges law officers to develop policies to check gun data base information on a computer if they encounter a high risk person they believe owns a firearm.
Another parent Bob Weiss said his daughter Veronica’s memory and encouragement is always with him.
“I’ve been receiving signs from her. She likes what I am doing and she wants me to keep doing what I am doing. She wants me to keep up the fight for her,” said Weiss.
He plans to work on getting similar legislation passed on a national level.
District Attorney Joyce Dudley and Congresswoman Lois Capps were also on hand and have worked at their levels for changes that will help to intervene when a gun owner is making threats or showing signs that they will misuse a weapon.
The legislation has been called, “another tool in the tool box,” of efforts to make schools and all California communities safe.
A student who works in campus housing said they are trained to report anyone who is making threats or acting suspicious. Brandon Rose said he is confident the staff will watch everyone carefully to keep the students safe on and off the UCSB property. He urges communication early on as a way to help those who have conflicts. Rose said the freshman class is aware of the tragedy, and also ways to get help if they have issues that could escalate. He believes the Housing Department has a solid safety plan, and services for anyone who is in need. “So I think it is really important especially with first year students coming in, to building that community,” said Rose.
The Isla Vista mass murders involved a gun and at least one knife.
The full report on the incident has not been released by the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.
