The City Attorney informed the Los Angeles City Council on March 17 that Smith & Wesson has reached a nationwide settlement with the White House and Department of Housing and Urban Development over firearm-safety commitments and that the city
ttorney's office will dismiss Smith & Wesson from the city's pending litigation while pursuing the remaining defendants.

City Attorney James Hahn described the settlement as "historic," listing provisions he said are included in the agreement: designs to reduce the chance a child under 6 can fire a gun; immediate external gun locks and internal locking mechanisms within two years; chamber-load indicators and magazine-disconnect devices; warnings about safe storage; a program to have bullets traceable through Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms testing; and a commitment to spend 2% of annual sales on development of personalized-gun technology.

The council began the item by finding that "the need to act arose after the posting of the agenda" to allow a same-day briefing; the finding passed on a recorded vote. The council then heard Hahn's presentation and asked questions; the City Attorney said the settlement represents a floor for negotiations and that the city will continue litigation against other manufacturers who have not agreed to comparable measures.

Why it matters: The settlement, as described by Hahn, requires a major manufacturer to adopt design, safety and marketing changes that the city and other jurisdictions had sought in litigation. Hahn told the council the suit against Smith & Wesson will be dismissed and the city will pursue remaining defendants to obtain comparable changes.

Council action and next steps: The council approved the procedural findings needed for the same-day briefing by recorded vote (finding vote recorded as 13 ayes). Councilmember Feuer said he would bring a motion asking the city to purchase weapons only from signatories to the settlement. Hahn said no further council action was required immediately, but recommended continued litigation and coordination with federal and state authorities.

Ending: Hahn told the council that the settlement was the result of lengthy negotiations involving the White House and federal agencies and said the city would continue the litigation against other manufacturers who had not agreed to the Smith & Wesson terms.