City Takes First Step Toward Gun Ban : Crime: West Hollywood will draft law prohibiting sale of ‘Saturday night specials.’ Others may follow suit.

West Hollywood on Monday night took an initial step toward banning the sale of “Saturday night specials”--the first such action in the state against the cheap handguns.

The City Council unanimously approved the drafting of an ordinance restricting the small-caliber pistols that law enforcement officials say frequently are used in crimes.

Officials in Los Angeles, Santa Monica and other cities have applauded the West Hollywood proposal and said they may follow suit.

The exact weapons to be banned remain to be defined, although they probably will include those that the federal government prohibited for importation in 1968, said City Atty. Mike Jenkins. The council plans to vote on the ordinance in about a month once such details are ironed out.

Monday night’s council action came despite warnings from several speakers that the city was ignoring the state’s jurisdiction in the field and was taking an ineffectual measure against an overwhelming tide of weapons.

“We’ve got to stop this neighborhood arms race,” said Councilman Steve Martin. “We’ve got to stop it right here and right now. . . . It’s time that we stand up and be counted. We’re ready to take on the NRA.”

Councilman Paul Koretz, one of the law’s sponsors, said he expects several other cities to pass similar laws and help in any court battles with the gun lobby.

“We expect this to save lives in West Hollywood and, far beyond, in the state of California,” he said.

All but one of nine speakers addressing the council said the law would leave many honest citizens defenseless against criminals.

“I think West Hollywood is really overstepping its bounds,” said Elliott Salter, who for 30 years has owned a West Hollywood pawnshop that sells guns. “It’s beyond the scope of the city. I don’t think someone should be denied a gun just because they can’t afford a better quality gun.”

Mark Sinaguglia, the owner of an Inglewood firing range, said he finds the vote ironic in a city that has fought for the rights of gays and lesbians.

“I find it very amusing that people who have been fighting for their rights, no matter what those rights may be, now want to take away someone else’s rights--the right to defend oneself.”

Gun control opponents had said before the meeting that they saw little reason to show up, feeling that the City Council had its mind made up and that their only appeal would be to the courts.

“Going to the City Council is a waste of time; they don’t listen to you,” said Scott Ehredt, a spokesman for the owner of the Brass Rail, West Hollywood’s biggest gun store. “Most political leaders in Southern California don’t care about this issue; as long as they keep getting good press, they are happy.”

Steve Helsley, state liaison for the National Rifle Assn., said the group didn’t want to bother with the West Hollywood vote, because it believes that state laws permitting Saturday night specials and other guns supersede any local rules. “This is so silly I’m not sure this even warrants us coming out,” he said. “It simply isn’t real. It’s a city hallucinating.”

But other jurisdictions are considering taking the same path. In Santa Monica, Councilwoman Judy Abdo said Monday that she will consult with the city attorney’s office to see if that city can consider a similar ordinance.

And in Sacramento, one of the chief advocates of gun control in the Legislature was heartened by the West Hollywood vote. Bill Mabie, chief aide to state Sen. Richard G. Polanco (D-Los Angeles), said the support of individual cities might eventually improve the climate in Sacramento for statewide legislation banning Saturday night specials.