To: firearms-alert@shell.portal.com Subject: CA: CRPA's suit on West Hollywood, RE: "Assault-Weapon" Ban Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 14:17:25 PST From: John Walker Here is a copy of a press release concerning a CRPA lawsuit on a West Hollywood ordinance banning "Assault Weapons". Enjoy. John W. ************ For Immediate Release Contact: Chuck Michel Law Offices of C. C. Michel (310) 375-9909 James Erdman California Rifle and Pistol Association (714) 992-2772 Stephen Brock Institute for Constitutional Rights (310) 318-9906 December 29, 1995 CALIFORNIA RIFLE AND PISTOL ASSOCIATION FILES LAWSUIT AGAINST CITY OF WEST HOLLYWOOD FOR ILLEGAL FIREARMS ORDINANCE the California rifle and Pistol Association, a state-wide organization of firearms-sports enthusiasts, today filed a lawsuit against the City of West Hollywood on behalf of its 65,000 members. The lawsuit (case #BC 141695) charges that West Hollywood's municipal ordinance regulating so-called "assault weapons" is illegal because it conflicts with state law regulating the same weapons. "This lawsuit is a preemptive strike," James Erdman, the Executive Director of the CRPA said. "While we were looking into a lawsuit against West Hollywood for the ordinance they plan to pass against certain handguns, we found they have another illegal regulation already on the books." The West Hollywood City Council is scheduled to vote on a new ordinance regulating certain handguns at their next meeting on January 2, 1996. The CRPA and other groups plan to file another lawsuit if that ordinance is enacted. "If the taxpayers of West Hollywood want to waste their money fighting lawsuits we will oblige them," said plaintiff's attorney Chuck Michel. "But perhaps they should ask the city's attorney exactly what the City Council's political agenda is getting them into. Courts have already held that a city simply cannot pass these kinds of laws. It can only be done at the state level. If they want to be stubborn, it's going to get expensive for them." Lead lawyer on the case is Northern California attorney don Kates, a nationally recognized criminologist, author, and firearms law expert. Kates overturned the San Francisco handgun ban in 1982. Also representing the plaintiffs is the Institute for Constitutional Rights. The ICR is a non-profit, public-interest law firm that handles free speech, states' rights, and other constitutional cases. -- End --