Police Chief Ken James Recognized For Good Works

Long An Advocate For Sensible Gun Regulation:

Emeryville Police Chief Ken James Receives Brady Campaign Honors

At their third annual meeting on November 7, the California Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence presented Emeryville's Ken James with an Excellence in Leadership award.  Chief James was recognized for exemplary leadership and service throughout his career as Chief of Police and Chair of the Firearms Committee for the California Police Chiefs Association where he has championed and advocated for local ordinances and state legislation to reduce gun violence in California.

Mr James was instrumental in legislating in 'microstamping' technology for handguns, making crime scene bullet casings easier to trace to help track down violent criminals.  He has also publicly rebuked and advocated against the so called "open carry" phenomenon citing the drain on public resources such brandishing brings as well as the serious public safety ramifications.  Chief James was also instrumental in helping to implement common sense guidelines for Bay Area local governments to comprehensibly regulate gun dealers in their communities.


Emeryville directly benefited from Mr James' advocacy in service of his gun dealer work last March.   Many Emeryville residents will remember the National Rifle Association (NRA) bullying tactics used at our City Hall as gun "aficionados" from all around California descended upon the council chambers and attempted to thwart the imposition of the slightest regulation for a planned gun shop on San Pablo Avenue, next to the high school.  The regulations stood up against the NRA onslaught and its threats of lawsuits and the gunners backed down.  Readers may wish to read several Tattler articles surrounding the March 16 vocal show down at City Hall.

Mr James has indicated he plans on retiring from the force in the near future having served Emeryville in uniform for decades.  Chief James has received accolades from Emeryville leaders and residents alike for his commitment to building a highly professional police force with competence and comity.

'Gunners' Death Wish For Emeryville Residents

Violence Fantasy Loosed On Our Town

NRA backed "gunners" are licking their wounds in the wake of their defeat at the April 6th Emeryville city council meeting (see Tattler article). Their fight against the approved gun store ordinance, primarily co-ordinated at the blog site Calguns.net featured much ruminating about the loss, including a death wish fantasy about Emeryville residents from a 'senior member'.

The member, code named Road Runner said Emeryville residents now won't be able to defend themselves against criminals since gun stores have been regulated by the new ordinance. Road Runner tried to console his colleagues by offering "I have no problem with them (the Emeryville residents) making an environment that causes antigunners (sic) to become thinned out through somewhat of a culling by the criminals".

The full text is re-printed below:

Initially, I considered joining the fight, however, when I watched the last meeting and I saw all of the residents that were so willing to give up their rights, I just turned it off and decided to let them have their hearts desire. We know that people in places that have draconian gun laws, regret allowing it to happen, and we know that after Emeryville passes these ordinances, and crime remains unchanged or goes up, people will regret these ordinances, especially when they choose to get a firearm and have to drive a distance to get it. Unfortunately, people refuse to see the need for an item until they actually need it. Unfortunately, by that time, it's too late. As evil as it may sound, I have no problem with them making an environment that causes antigunners to become thinned out through somewhat of a culling by the criminals. The people in Oakland and Emeryville need to get a clue and throw out the antigun politicians that make laws that create the environment that allows violence to thrive. Until they become more discerning when choosing their politicians, they will suffer the consequences through their own loss.

Gun 'Nuts' Go Out With A Fizzle

'Bad Boy' Gunners Impotent; Shooting Blanks

It turned out to be a bluff. Gun enthusiasts vowed to swamp City Hall Tuesday night with over 100 speakers to try for a reversal on the gun store ordinance that passed 'first reading' by the council on March 16. As it turned out, not even one speaker addressed the council against the ordinance. Two speakers from the Legal Community Against Violence affirmed the modest nature of the regulation proscribed by the new ordinance.

All the threats and intimidation from the gunners turned out to be just a bunch of heat and light amounting to nothing. Emeryville residents were more than a match for a co-ordinated effort by the NRA. The council passed the second reading of the ordinance 5-0, and the ordinance is now law.

Gun 'Nuts' Reload for Showdown Tuesday

They're Going To Have Every Council Member Removed

High noon will come at precisely 7:15 P.M. Tuesday. That's when the final showdown is scheduled in an epic battle pitting the National Rifle Association, an organization devoted to preserving one of our Constitutionally guaranteed rights, versus the Emeryville city council, a group hell bent on eviscerating that right.

At least that's how NRA members are characterizing the proposed gun store ordinance. The city council, for its part, sees a set of reasonable and rationed regulations similar to rules applied to other businesses. The regulations have the backing of the City Attorney and the Chief of Police.

The proposed ordinance forbids those under age 18 from going inside any store selling firearms in Emeryville, requires criminal background checks of store employees and other limited regulations. Residents at a March 16th council meeting on the subject called the proposed ordinance 'benign' and 'reasonable.' At the same meeting, gun rights advocates chastised the proposal as 'invasive' and 'draconian,' a 'government usurpation of Second Amendment rights.'

The council's second and final reading of the ordinance is scheduled for Tuesday night April 6th. Gun lovers have promised to double their numbers from the first reading (see the Tattler story on March 16). Firearms enthusiasts have threatened, if the council goes through with the ordinance, to unseat every one of our council members either by recall or by getting pro-NRA candidates to replace them in future elections.

The city council will take up the issue at 7:15 Tuesday night.

Council Splits Gun Vote

The city council tonight split a much anticipated vote on the controversial gun dealers ordinance. They voted unanimously to regulate the gun dealers part of the ordinance but removed the section on ammunition sellers. Council member Kurt Brinkman expressed reluctance to vote for the whole package based on fears of litigation from pro-gun groups. His colleagues agreed and instructed the City Attorney to strike the language that pertains to ammo specifically.

The council chamber was filled to capacity and then some. The speakers from Emeryville were in the majority and almost unanimously spoke in favor of the ordinance while the pro-gun out of towners were fewer in numbers.

The Tattler will report on the details and the the ramifications of this vote in a later edition.