CITY COUNCIL VOTES TO STUDY GUN SAFEGUARDS; ACTION SPURRED BY SHOOTINGS AT VALLEY COMMUNITY CENTER.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

With the shootings last month at the North Valley Jewish Community Center in the background, the Los Angeles City Council took steps Wednesday to try to tighten gun ownership as well as get more weapons off the street.

``It is scandalous that we have the number of weapons on the streets that we do without any type of controls,'' Councilman Mike Feuer said after the council's 12-0 vote to support his proposal to study phasing in various weapon safeguards.

``There is no reason for guns to be sold that could be accidentally fired. There is no reason for guns to be sold that could be stolen.''

In related actions, the council asked for a report on steps to be taken to increase the collection of illegal weapons - including a possible gun buyback program - and support for the Los Angeles County decision to ban gun shows on county-owned property. Officials with the National Rifle Association did not return telephone calls.

Under Feuer's proposal, a task force of public safety experts and representatives of the gun industry would be formed to examine how various safeguards could be implemented over the next several years.

These would range from such low-tech devices as requiring locks on guns and having devices that indicate if a bullet is in a chamber to the high-tech, where weapons would be fitted with a device to permit only the owner to fire it.

``These are things that all can be done now or in the near future,'' Feuer said, acknowledging not much could be done with weapons already on the streets. ``But we have to start somewhere.

``This is a beginning. If Los Angeles takes action, it could spur other cities and the state. This is the start of momentum to get something done.''

The actions by the council are part of a growing level of support locally for tougher gun laws following the Valley shooting rampage, with five people wounded at the Jewish Community Center in Granada Hills and the killing of letter carrier Joseph Ileto in Chatsworth. A suspect, Buford O'Neal Furrow Jr., is in custody and has been charged in federal court.

The council also voted 12-0 to support a proposal from Councilwoman Laura Chick to explore ways the Los Angeles Police Department can try to get more weapons off the streets.

``We should look at what other cities have been doing and emulate the successful programs,'' Chick said. ``I am not looking at a program that would cost a lot of money, but something that could involve tax credits. And, we're not talking about the old weapons in someone's closet handed down by a grandfather. We want to get the serious weapons, the assault weapons, off the street.''

Chick said the Police Commission has begun its own review of a similar program as proposed by Police Chief Bernard C. Parks, but wants it expanded to include the City Attorney's Office to report on existing gun control laws.