Vice Mayor Rebecca Kaplan's September 15, 2021, E-Blast
Dear Neighbor,
I have received community inquires on how you may join me in urging the Alameda County District Attorney to join San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin’s lawsuit against “Ghost Gun” manufacturers and retailers. Community members who would like to join this crucial call for Alameda County to help in this important effort to protect our communities from deadly ghost guns, are asked to sign on to the following petition:
On September 7, 2021, I shared an open letter addressed to District Attorney Nancy O'Malley, expressing my concerns with the rise in ghost guns and the harm they cause in the community, and asking that Alameda County join in the legal fight to stop this danger. The letter states: “I urge you to join cities such as our neighbors in San Francisco and the City of Los Angeles who have filed lawsuits against manufacturers of Ghost Guns. The entire system of gun safety laws and regulations are undermined by ghost gun manufacturing companies, who are profiting from the violence and harm in our community. Therefore, I implore that Alameda County join San Francisco’s lawsuit against ghost gun manufacturers and retailers.”
Full Letter to District Attorney: Link
District Attorney Nancy O’Malley has since responded stating, “This letter urges my Office to join in a lawsuit against ghost guns manufacturers along with San Francisco and Los Angeles. I will point out that the lawsuit is filed on behalf of the People of the State of California, so our county would be included in all outcomes. We have, however, been making efforts to learn more about the lawsuit.”
I appreciate the District Attorney’s attention to this important public safety issue, and continue to advocate that every possible jurisdiction join in taking a strong stance against the manufacturers and retailers of ghost guns, which are devastating our communities, and are being used to evade basic gun laws.
Ghost Guns are self-assembling firearms bought in kits or parts, which contain all the components and directions for finishing a working firearm. These guns can then be illegally sold and used in crimes. When these firearms are recovered at crime scenes, they cannot be traced due to the lack of a serial number. According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), “ghost guns” account for 30% of guns recovered in California. Although these guns function and cause harm like traditional guns, their manufacturers and retailers are largely unregulated.
Background on my fight against illegal guns and gun violence:
I have continually pushed for control and regulation of ghost guns and the prioritization of ending gun violence. On April 20 2021, I successfully passed a resolution asking the State Legislature to enact regulations against ghost guns. In December of 2020, Council unanimously passed a resolution I introduced declaring Gun Violence the Top Law Enforcement Priority. I also authored and passed a law prohibiting leaving guns loose in unattended vehicles -- a dangerous act which has often resulted in guns being stolen and used in killings. On April 12, 2021, I successfully allocated funding to expand ShotSpotter to areas of East Oakland currently not covered, support Operation Ceasefire, and fund gun tracing to identify and shut down sources of illegal guns (4/12/21 - Budget spreadsheet).
