City Council approves first readings for fingerprint rule and ban on concealable "pocket rockets"

The Los Angeles City Council on Wednesday voted to advance two related public-safety measures: a city ordinance requiring a purchaser's thumbprint for handgun sales and a separate ordinance banning the retail sale of easily concealable compact handguns (often described in testimony as "pocket rockets"). Councilmember Mike Feuer introduced the fingerprint requirement, and the council approved the ordinance on first reading 10-1; a related budget request to fund fingerprint-processing capacity cleared 8-3. The compact-handgun sale ban passed on first reading 9-2.

Supporters said the measures give law enforcement tools to deter and prosecute people who try to buy guns illegally; opponents warned the rules would not stop criminals and could harm lawful owners, including some elderly and disabled residents. The council and staff repeatedly noted that because fewer than 12 members were present, both ordinances will be carried over for a second reading next week under city rules for ordinance adoption.

Feuer framed the thumbprint measure as an enforcement tool. "I rise to urge a unanimous vote of the city council in support of an ordinance that was itself unanimously backed by the police commission, strongly backed by police chief Parks and the LAPD guns unit," Feuer said, arguing the step would help prosecutors pursue people who lie on background-check forms. He cited state statistics, saying that in 1999 "nearly 5,000 criminals including murderers, rapists, robbers, and others tried illegally to buy guns in California." Feuer said the thumbprint requirement would not by itself…