§ 5.26.020. Findings.

The City Council finds that:

A.

The number of unlicensed firearms dealers within the City far exceeds the number of legitimate licensed dealers; and

B.

Firearms used in violent crimes have been traced by the police department to firearms dealers operating without permits within the City; and

C.

Firearms are used in nearly 80 percent of the homicides committed in the City; and

D.

A considerable proportion of the firearms used in violent crimes were obtained illegally from unlicensed firearms dealers; and

E.

Since June of 1990, Highland Hospital in Oakland has treated an average of 32 Oakland residents a month for gunshot wounds, an average of one a day; and

F.

The average cost for treatment of a gunshot wound is $33,000.00, most of the cost borne by taxpayers. Nearly 400 gunshot wounds were treated at Highland Hospital in 1991; and

G.

The widespread availability of illegally obtained firearms has resulted in a rise in the number of shooting incidents involving minors; and

H.

Because of the range and effectiveness of firearms, the use of firearms in violent crimes is more likely to lead to the death or injury of bystanders.

(Ord. No. 12994, 2-16-2010)