RES 2013-03 GUN CONTROLRESOLUTION NO. 2013 -03
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of
Bainbridge Island supporting the reinstatement of the Federal
Assault Weapons Ban and the enactment of a federal ban on
ammunition clips in excess of ten rounds and supporting state
and federal legislation to address known deficiencies in the
regulation of gun sales, including the gun show and private sale
criminal background check exceptions.
WHEREAS, in 1994, Congress enacted an assault weapons ban that prohibited the sale
of certain semi - automatic and automatic weapons in order to reduce the levels of street violence
in the United States; and
WHEREAS, in 2004, the assault weapons ban expired by operation of law and, to this
date, has not been renewed by Congress; and
WHEREAS, since 1999, the incidence of mass shootings in schools and public places
has increased at the same time that the overall crime rate has been falling; and
WHEREAS, in the last several years, the amount of random, mass gun violence has
accelerated and the names of communities such as Tucson, Arizona; Aurora, Colorado; Newton,
Connecticut; and Virginia Tech have become synonymous with senseless loss of life and
crippling injuries; and
WHEREAS, the use of semi - automatic and automatic weapons with large ammunition
clips allows persons intent on harm to cause more carnage than would be possible if such
weapons were unavailable; and
WHEREAS, military -style weapons coupled with large ammunition clips are not
necessary for sportsmen or home protection and constitute a demonstrated threat to the general
public; and
WHEREAS, under current federal and state law, criminal background checks are not
required for the purchase of guns at gun shows or through private transactions; and
WHEREAS, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is an
effective tool to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and other dangerous individuals, having
blocked 1.9 million illegal gun purchases and permit applications in the last two decades; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Bainbridge Island supports policies that
keep guns out of dangerous hands while respecting the rights of law abiding gun owners, and
strongly believes that the United Stated Congress and the State of Washington should take action
to close gaps in current regulations and keep military style- weapons and high capacity
ammunition clips away from our community and especially our schools; now, therefore,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAINBRIDGE ISLAND DOES RESOLVE AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council supports the reinstatement of the Federal_ Assault Weapons
Ban and the enactment of a federal ban on ammunition clips in excess of ten rounds.
Section 2. The City Council supports the enactment of state and federal legislation
mandating criminal background checks for all gun sales without exception.
Section 3. The City Council authorizes the City Manager to forward this Resolution to
the City's congressional delegation to the 113th Congress.
Occlion
`�.
one
k Icy
k.oancii
auirioriZeS
the
City
Manager to
rorwara
this
Resolution
to
the City's delegation to the Washington State Legislature.
PASSED by the City Council this 23rd day of January, 2013.
APPROVED by the Mayor this 23rd day of January, 2013.
ATTEST /AUTHENTICATE:
By :,e�,fir�o� 10�s
Rosalind D. Lassoff, City Clerk
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK:
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO.
January 10, 2013
January 23, 2013
2013 -03
2