City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, who has been actively advocating for President Barack Obama's plan to reduce gun violence, has released a preliminary report attaching "an alarming number" to daily gun purchases in the city of Los Angeles.
Residents of L.A. apply to purchase a total of 200 guns daily, according to the report, which is apparently based on letters (full text below) Trutanich's office started sending out in December reminding gun owners to keep weapons safe and report if they are lost or stolen, says LA Daily News. The publication notes, "The letters were sent out as a follow-up to a study by the RAND Corp. that said 50 percent of people will voluntarily comply with local laws if they are informed of the requirements."
As readers may also be, Trutanich was surprised by the number. "You are talking about 73,000 guns a year, just in Los Angeles," he said. "I never guessed how many guns were being bought and sold." He feels the number poses a huge challenge in getting guns off the streets.
He also expressed shock in the fact that 1 percent of gun buyers were ineligible due to criminal history or mental illness. "You know they are just going out to try to find someone to buy a weapon for them or get one illegally," said Trutanich.
