To SaveOurGuns.com  The Oakland Tribune Friday, January 28, 2000 4:10 AM MST

By Kathleen Kirkwood
STAFF WRITER

OAKLAND -- Oakland Vice Mayor Henry Chang and San Francisco Supervisor Alicia Becerril on Thursday unveiled proposed legislation banning sales of small, high-quality handguns that are expected to become popular alternatives to outlawed junk guns.

The twin laws, to be introduced Monday in San Francisco and Tuesday in Oakland, would be the first in the nation to ban guns based on size and to target those well-made weapons that cannot be banned under junk gun laws.

Both jurisdictions also will consider laws banning children, as well as parolees and felons, from stores that sell guns.

Although such handguns have not yet become a problem -- the technology is just catching up -- Chang said it is logical to assume they soon will be: studies show criminals prefer concealable handguns in committing crimes, and if junk guns are not available, they will buy the higher-end product, he said.

Becerril, a former Oakland resident who has lived in San Francisco for four years, said the sale of such guns serves no public purpose.

"Ultracompact weapons are small and deadly and are not designed for sporting or self-defense," she said.

"Now is the time to act and prevent a deluge of these weapons from hitting our streets."

Handguns sold could be no less than 63/4 inches in length and 41/2 inches in height, under the proposed laws.

Officials from both cities admitted they are bracing for legal challenges from gun supporters. But they say that also is part of the strategy. If the laws are adopted and successfully defended in the two cities -- whose legal resources are relatively strong -- the hope is other cities will follow suit.

Such cities would include San Leandro, where Trader's, the largest retail outlet for guns in Northen California, is located, and Daly City, which hosts an annual gun show.

Garry Loeffler, a San Leandro City Council member, appeared with Chang and Becerril at an Oakland news conference, saying he is supportive of the ban.

But he is not ready to introduce a law in his city until it has been tested in Oakland and San Francisco.

There is one gun retailer each  (note - computer version ended here - article was not complete in its electronic version).

STAFF WRITER Robert Gammon contributed to this report.

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