SAN FERNANDO MAYOR SEEKS STRICTER RULES FOR GUN STORES.

Byline: Luz Villarreal Daily News Staff Writer

The small size of this city usually works to its benefit. It's resulted in well-kept parks, quick attention to potholes and speedy response times from local police officers.

But for about four years now, a state law exempting cities with fewer than 50,000 residents from tough security measures for gun dealers has San Fernando officials worried that its small size is making the city more vulnerable to illegal weapons.

On Monday, Mayor Raul Godinez will ask the San Fernando City Council to adopt strict security measures for the 23,682-resident city and to take those safety measures a step further.

``I feel that security is just as important for smaller cities as it is to larger cities,'' Godinez said Friday. ``I hope other cities follow San Fernando's example and close the loophole for themselves.''

If approved, the ordinance will require firearms dealers to store their weapons in a locked, fireproof safe or vault and secure them with a steel rod or cable through the trigger guard during nonbusiness hours.

Additionally, San Fernando's ordinance would allow the city's police chief to inspect a firearms store annually after giving the shop owner a 24-hour notice. Then the chief, or his designee, would check to make sure the dealer is in compliance with state and federal licensing requirements.

If the law had been in place back in 1985, it may have prevented the robbery of a local sporting goods store, which has since gone out of business, city officials said. Back then, a small group of burglars broke into the store and stole about 100 guns. Police caught one of the suspects and recovered half of the weapons. In later years, a handful of the remaining guns surfaced in unrelated crimes.

``The store had guns inside a glass display case and the rifles were on a rack on the wall,'' said Godinez. ``You could reach over the counter and grab one. I don't know what they did at night. Obviously, they didn't secure them very well.''

And in 1992, a firearms dealers was arrested after selling weapons from his home and not registering the guns with authorities or applying a 10-day waiting period.

Police Chief Dominick Rivetti said guns were traced to the dealer after the weapons were found during two separate searches of drug dealers' homes. The guns were not registered and were not reported stolen, he added.

``With this ordinance, it would require that there is a little bit more oversight,'' Rivetti said. ``I think it's going to put them on notice that they make sure they comply with all the laws. Also, it makes sure these guns are secure so that if someone breaks into these buildings, these guns are not so vulnerable to theft.''

Godinez believes the 1985 incident is a prime example of why the city needs to adopt the state law. He believes the more recent incident is why the city needs to include an annual inspection of dealers who carry federal firearms licenses.

Although city officials were aware of only one firearms dealer operating from a local pawn shop, a check by the Department of Justice turned up eight dealers.

By contrast, the city of Los Angeles has 92 registered firearms dealers, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

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Photo: Assemblyman Robert Hertzberg, D-Van Nuys, left, and San Fernando Mayor Raul Godinez address gun-store measures Friday.

Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News