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Laguna Beach mayor urges common-sense gun-safety discussion, supports universal background checks
Summary
Mayor Alex Runagi said public safety must be fully funded at the local level and called for common-sense gun-safety laws, including universal background checks, during an interview following national shootings he described as "devastating."
Mayor Alex Runagi said public safety is the primary role of local government and urged more "common sense" discussions about gun safety at all levels of government, including support for universal background checks.
Speaking on Fair Game Laguna Beach, Runagi said his first reaction to national shootings is sympathy for victims and their families and then a focus on policy. "Public safety is the number 1 role of of local government. And so that requires us to fully fund our law enforcement, ensuring that we give them the the the tools that they need," he said.
On broader policy, Runagi said: "We need common sense, you know, gun safety laws...background, universal background checks are something that should be part of the law." He described the national debate as too partisan and said he is frustrated that broadly supported measures have not been adopted, adding that "90% of the American people support" universal background checks, a figure he cited in the interview.
Runagi's remarks were commentary by an elected local official and did not announce any local ordinance, new city policy or formal directive. He framed his comments as preferences for national and multilevel policy discussions rather than a report of an adopted city action.
