Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council to Discuss Pierce Gun Class, Smart Meters

For the second week in a row, the Woodland Hills-Warner Center Neighborhood Council on Wednesday will discuss a gun safety course offered as an extension class at Pierce College.

Last week, during a special meeting, the council considered but voted against sending a letter urging the college and Los Angeles Community College District to keep guns and gun courses off campuses.

"Although the council agrees that gun safety is imperative to gun ownership and is in no way questioning one's right to legal gun ownership, providing a forum whereby guns may be present on a densely populated campus is inappropriate and potentially unsafe," the proposed letter said.

Council member Anna Davies, who also serves as the vice president of academic affairs at Pierce College, provided some insight into the class, which fulfills a requirement in order to take an exam that allows one to purchase a hand gun in California.

The class, which emphasizes safety and responsibility of gun ownership, only ever has one gun on campus—and it's disarmed, Davies explained. The gun, which is checked out by a certified firearms instructor from the sheriff's department, has had its firing pin removed and cannot be shot. Any actual shooting takes place off campus at a firing range with weapons provided by the range.

Davies also reported that as a community services class, it pays for itself, as opposed to regular academic classes that are heavily subsidized by taxpayers. The class has been offered twice a year since 2008 and has been filled every time it's been offered.

"If there were no interest in the class, it would not be offered," Davies said. "In my opinion, the enrollment history reflects that local community members are pursuing this course so they can obtain safe and responsible gun ownership and that’s been consistent."

During discussion those supporting sending the letter said members of the on-campus sheriff's station were unaware of the class. Also, the classroom in which the course was taking place had no signage to let passersby know this was a sanctioned weapons class. Those issues, they said, could lead to tragic consequences from a misunderstanding. Others simply were not comfortable having any gun, even a disarmed one, on a school campus.

After a discussion lasting a little more than half an hour, the council voted against sending the letter. After the vote, council member August Steurer moved to revisit the issue at Wednesday's meeting with a new letter addressing some of the on-campus communication issues that could be mitigated.

Even if a letter is sent to the district, the neighborhood council does not have the authority to force the college district to act in accordance with it. The District would likely take the opinion of the council into consideration, however, in making decisions.

Also at Wednesday's meeting, the council will hear from a member of the Department of Water and Power and an environmental sciences consultant regarding the installation of smart meters throughout the city.

[To see Wednesday's full agenda, visit the Woodland Hills-Warner Center website here.]

The meeting will take place at 630 p.m. Wednesday in the multi-purpose room at Woodland Hills Academy, 20800 Burbank Blvd.