CITY COUNCIL ASKS FOR TOUGHER GUN LAWS.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

With a slap at Hollywood for glorifying violence, the Los Angeles City Council on Friday went on record in favor of tougher gun laws nationwide in response to last week's shooting at the North Valley Jewish Community Center in Granada Hills.

Councilman Mike Feuer, who introduced the proposal that also seeks greater power for cities to control guns, said it was time for government to take stronger action.

``The level of gun violence in this society is totally unacceptable,'' Feuer said. ``We can take reasonable steps to reduce it or we can give in to the bullying of firearm fanatics and watch as more of our neighbors and loved ones are gunned down.''

Councilman Nate Holden issued the call for the entertainment industry to tone down its productions, which was included in the resolution adopted by the council's 11-0 vote.

``One of the children there said she recognized the gun because she saw it in a cartoon,'' Holden said. ``We should request the motion picture industry to stop glorifying violence and guns in films and, in particular, in cartoons watched by children.''

Rich Taylor, a spokesman for the Motion Picture Association of America, said he could not comment on the council's action.

Councilwoman Jackie Goldberg, who voted to support the proposal, said she was concerned about placing blame on the entertainment industry.

``I am concerned it deflects the real issue,'' Goldberg said, adding she questioned whether motion pictures and popular music encourage violence or reflect the culture.

``The same films and music made here is transported to a nation like Japan which has very strict controls about who may own weapons. If you don't have the guns to go out and shoot someone with, no one gets shot.''

Feuer's proposals call on the state and federal government to require the licensing and registration of all guns, as well as have strict controls on gun training and the purchase of ammunition.

The proposals also seek to give the city power to develop its own controls on weapons.

In related actions, Councilwoman Laura Chick called for the council to go on record in support of a plan by Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky to halt all gun shows on county property as well as for a report on how the Los Angeles Police Department can step up efforts to seize illegal weapons.

Chick said she believes the city can develop a comprehensive program to seize the weapons as well as develop a buyback program for guns.