July 7, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Councilmembers Mike Bonin, Paul Koretz Vote Against Retired Police Officers’ Magazine Limit To No Avail

(Thinkstock).
(Thinkstock).

The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to exempt retired police officers and reserve officers from a recently adopted ban in Los Angeles on the possession of ammunition magazines holding more than 10 rounds.

Police department and union officials have been pushing for the exemptions, saying officers are able to handle high-capacity magazines and should be allowed to use their training if they ever find themselves needing to defend others in a life-threatening situation.

LAPD Deputy Chief Kirk Albanese, saying he is speaking for police Chief Charlie Beck, said allowing retired police officers to keep high-capacity gun magazines “saves lives” and the department supports the exemption for such individuals “for obvious reasons.”

Albanese also said that for some reserve officers who are not considered “peace officers” when off-duty, “we have to identify a way to then take that magazine away from them until they are ready to serve their next tour of duty.”

However, members of Women Against Gun Violence and others who support gun control measures have said the exemptions chip away at the adopted ban, which garnered Los Angeles nationwide attention earlier this year.

Following today’s vote, Women Against Gun Violence’s executive director, Margot Bennett, questioned whether data exists that shows possession of high capacity magazines by retired police officers actually contributes to public safety.

The council voted 11-4 in favor of the exemptions, with members Nury Martinez, Mike Bonin, Paul Koretz and David Ryu casting the dissenting votes. Because the vote was not unanimous, the proposed ordinance will need to return to the City Council for a final vote.

Before the vote, Koretz said while he was “willing” to support the exemption for reserve officers, he was “uncomfortable” with the exemption for retired police officers, who he feels “are not necessarily magically any different from anybody else.”

“If you have a situation where someone was depressed or have other problems 30 years after they retire from the LAPD, there’s nothing magical that keeps them from being an active shooter,” Koretz said.

Councilman Paul Krekorian, who authored the gun magazine ban, voted in favor of the exemptions. When asked for the reasons the councilman supported the changes, a spokesman responded that “we don’t have anything to add to this.”

Others who voted for the exemptions expressed their confidence in the intentions of those who are currently and formerly members of law enforcement.

“I am of the firm belief that once a cop, always a cop,” Councilman Mitch O’Farrell said.

“We live in a very dangerous world in a very over-armed society here in the United States,” he said. “I feel much more secure with reserve officers and retired police officers being out and about in this dangerous world, fully equipped to handle emergency situations that spring up out of nowhere and I don’t need to elaborate on any of those.”

The ban, adopted in July, is aimed at preventing mass shootings in which large numbers of people are hurt or killed within a short amount of time due to high-capacity weapons being used.

The City Council vote came as a shooting was taking place at a San Bernardino service center for people with disabilities.

Councilman Mitch Englander noted the news of the shooting during today’s discussion.

Englander, who supports exemptions and is an LAPD reserve officer, said he has not heard of an example of a retired police officer perpetrating a mass shooting.

“It’s never happened,” he said. “If someone can find a case, I’d love to hear it, but it’s never happened.”

“Could it happen? Anything can happen,” Englander said. “I would trust that 30- or 40-year officers who have put themselves in the front line to protect us have really our best interest at heart.”

The ban was adopted in July by the City Council and signed into law by Mayor Eric Garcetti, and the deadline to turn in high-capacity gun magazines that violate the law was last month.

Related Posts

Michael Madsen, Star of Reservoir Dogs and Kill Bill, Dies at 67 in Malibu

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Actor Remembered for His Intense Performances and as a Poet  Actor Michael Madsen, known for his distinctive gravelly voice and...

Los Angeles City Council Cracks Down on ‘Disaster Tours’ in Pacific Palisades

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

City Council Bans Commercial Bus Tours in Burn Zone Amid Community Backlash Tour buses that have been operating in fire-ravaged...

Tow Truck Scammers Target Crash Victims Across L.A.: Authorities Warn of Fraud at Accident Scenes

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officials Urge Drivers to Stay Alert After Collisions as Rogue Operators Demand Inflated Fees  Motorists involved in vehicle accidents are...

Woman Dies After Melrose Store Altercation: LAPD Launches Homicide Investigation

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Critically Injured Young Woman Died July 2, After She was Badly Beaten at Work  The death of a woman critically...

CHP Officer Dies in Culver City Crash: Medical Emergency Suspected Behind Tragic Incident

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

Officer lost consciousness while transporting a suspect before crashing into a tree California Highway Patrol Officer Miguel Cano died early...

L.A. Beaches Brace for Holiday Rush: Over 1 Million Visitors Expected This Fourth of July

July 4, 2025

July 4, 2025

County Officials Urge Beachgoers to Pack Out Their Trash and  Monitor Water Quality More than one million visitors are expected...

(Video) A visit to New York Bagel & Deli in Santa Monica

July 3, 2025

July 3, 2025

Authentic NY Style Bagels with Extra Creamy Cream Cheese and Multi-Cultural Desserts. Located at 2216 Wilshire Blvd. A visit to...

Hot Dogs & Rosé: Something About Her and The Culver Hotel Roll Out Summer Specials

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Westside Venues to Serve Playful Bites and Seasonal Sips For the Holiday Weekend A bold new offering is making its...

NeueHouse Hosts Bold One-Night Dinner With Culinary Phenomenon Diego Argoti

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Acclaimed Chef Brings Culinary Mischief With a Five-Course Tasting Experience. NeueHouse Hollywood will host an exclusive, one-night-only dining event on...

(Video) Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Go To Homefrontbuild.com For More Information @home_front_build Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles Go...

405 Crash Near the Getty Sends Three to Hospital: Two Seriously Hurt Near Site Where LAPD Sgt. Died

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Early Morning Multi-Vehicle Collision Shut Down Lanes Near Brentwood Three men were injured and traffic was snarled for hours following...

(Video) Jikoni, the AfriCali PopUp from celebrated cookbook author Kiano Moju Has Been Extended Until July 3 at Citizen Public Market

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Bold Flavors and Spice Merge with Crisp, Chewy Chapati. Delicious With a Caring Chef and Staff. Jikoni, the AfriCali PopUp...

Pentagon Orders Troop Drawdown in LA: 150 National Guard Members Reassigned to Wildfire Duty

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Federal Forces Begin Partial Withdrawal From Protest Response as California Leaders Push Back U.S. Northern Command announced Tuesday that 150...

California Highway Patrol Deploys for Independence Day Enforcement Surge

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

All Available Officers to Hit California Highways for Holiday Weekend As Californians gear up for Fourth of July festivities, the...

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck  The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...