Los Angeles to ban gun carrying near schools

LOS ANGELES, March 17 (Xinhua) -- The city of Los Angeles is considering a tough regulation to prevent people from carrying guns near schools, city officials said on Monday.

Under the new proposal, those who are convicted of carrying a gun within 1,000 feet of a school would have to serve 90 days in county jail, according to Los Angeles City Councilmen Ed Reyes and Jack Weiss.

It is illegal to possess a firearm in an area within 1,000 feet of a public or private school. The crime can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor or felony, according to the proposal.

In putting forward the proposal, the two councilmen said they would require a mandatory minimum jail sentence for any misdemeanor conviction of the crime.

The proposed ordinance was prompted in part by last month's shootout in a city park. Marcos Salas, 36, was shot and killed while carrying his 2 year-old granddaughter near an elementary School.

Just last week, Jayceon Taylor, the rapper known as "The Game," was released from jail after serving eight days for possession of a firearm in a school zone. He had been sentenced to 60 days in jail.

The Los Angeles Police Department reported last month that guns had been used to kill 47 people and injure another 253 in Los Angeles since the start of the year.