Sponsor
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen
KPCC Archive

State Assemblyman Donnelly bringing a gun to the airport inspires proposed state law

Assembly member Norma J. Torres with the California National Guard in Riverside, CA.
Assembly member Norma J. Torres with the California National Guard in Riverside, CA.
(
The California National Guard/Flickr
)

With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.

Listen 0:49
State Assemblyman Donnelly bringing a gun to the airport inspires proposed state law
State Assemblyman Donnelly bringing a gun to the airport inspires proposed state law

Assemblywoman Norma Torres of the Inland Empire wants to crack down on people caught bringing concealed weapons to airports. The proposed legislation was apparently triggered by fellow assemblyman Tim Donnelly and his recent run-in with the law.

The bill is opposed by San Bernardino County Assemblyman Tim Donnelly, among others.

Last month, Donnelly was stopped at a security checkpoint at Ontario International, because of a loaded handgun in his briefcase.

Donnelly calls it an innocent mistake. He was charged with a pair of misdemeanors, and he could face up to a year and a half in jail if convicted.

Sponsored message

Assemblywoman Norma Torres of Pomona has introduced a bill that would make it mandatory to arrest anyone caught with a concealed weapon at a California airport.

The bill introduced by Assemblywoman Torres would also bar convicted gun holders from returning to the airport where they were arrested. The legislation exempts licensed gun owners who make prior check-in arrangements.

Donnelly says he armed himself after getting death threats over his opposition to a state law that grants student financial aid to undocumented immigrant college students.

At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.

But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.

We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.

Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Chip in now to fund your local journalism

A row of graphics payment types: Visa, MasterCard, Apple Pay and PayPal, and  below a lock with Secure Payment text to the right