Los Angeles Passes Brady-Supported Procurement Ordinance to Enforce Gun Industry Accountability

New ordinance ensures the City will use taxpayer dollars to purchase firearms and ammunition from dealers without a history of legal violations

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 4, 2024 — Today, the Los Angeles City Council passed a landmark ordinance requiring government purchases to fully comply with all local, state, and federal laws before conducting business with the City. This historic move comes on the heels of a Brady investigation that revealed law enforcement agencies across the state have spent millions on firearms from dealers with repeated violations of federal firearm regulations.

The new ordinance will ensure that taxpayer dollars — the number one funding source of firearms in America — are not spent on firearms dealers with a history of legal violations, aiming to hold vendors accountable and breaking the cycle of gun industry exemption from commercial norms. Brady looks forward to working with lawmakers across the state, including our partners in San Diego County, who are set to vote on a similar ordinance in early 2025. Similar measures have already passed in the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Diego.

Steve Lindley, a Former California Law Enforcement Executive and Senior Programs and Policy Manager at Brady, said:

"Nationwide, a staggering 90% of crime guns can be traced back to just 5% of gun dealers, and it is unacceptable that a single cent of taxpayer dollars fuels these problematic dealers. This decision by Los Angeles marks a significant victory for bringing long overdue accountability to the gun industry. By ensuring compliance with federal and state law, the City will leverage its purchasing power to incentivize better business practices and lead to meaningful reductions in gun trafficking and crime.

“Brady urges other cities across California and the U.S. to adopt similar measures and promote behaviors that reward safer business practices.”