Saturday, April 9, 2011

Fewer Than 5 Lawmakers Given Authorization To Carry Guns At Capitol


POSTED: 5:21 pm PDT April 8, 2011 UPDATED: 6:10 pm PDT April 8, 2011

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California Speaker of the Assembly John Perez has asked that authorizations for lawmakers to carry weapons at the Capitol be revoked, KCRA 3 has learned.


A source told KCRA 3 earlier this week that fewer than five lawmakers have been granted authorization to carry their own guns.


"Upon learning that those authorizations had been made by the Chief Sergeant of the Assembly, the Speaker asked the Chief Sergeant to revoke authorizations for any members pending a full review of safety and security measures," a representative for Perez said in a statement issued Friday.


The Speaker has asked that the authorizations be revoked pending a full review of safety and security measures, according to the statement.


The recent shooting of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and threats against several California state lawmakers prompted officials who guard state Assembly members to carry handguns.


California Assembly sergeants previously were armed only when threat levels were high or during large events, Assembly spokeswoman Shannon Murphy said.

Beginning this month, they started carrying .40 caliber Smith & Wesson semiautomatic handguns whenever on duty.

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