From: Brandi Nuse-Villegas
To: Clerk
Subject: Public comment, item 1-T
Date: Thursday, May 12, 2022 8:01:55 AM
External Email: Use caution with links and attachments
Dear council,
I ask that you look carefully at this ordinance amendment and what it entails as well as what it omits. That we have this equipment to use among our residents is concerning. What is used in war should not be used among people with due process and the potential for excessive force and irreparable tragedy should cause the city council to question the use of these weapons and put restrictions on what the Fresno Police department can use.
My concern is not only the weapons themselves, but the vague nature of the language. For use of all weapons, it should clearly and explicitly state what are the allowable uses and what is prohibited. Even rubber bullets, listed as less than lethal, can be fatal and cause very serious injury. It's imperative that the minimum distance be established and that FPD personnel be prohibited from using it as a close range.
This is one example of how specific usage in the ordinance itself is absolutely necessary.
However, I also ask that city council strongly consider what weapons will be allowed at all. Military equipment has a specific use for execution and war and has no place in our law enforcement.
Thank you
Regards,
Michaela Bennett
On Wednesday, May 11, 2022, 08:42:51 AM PDT, Michaela Bennett > wrote:
For: Public Comment - Fresno City Council. Fresno Police Dept Purchases.
Hi Brandi & Community Members,
1. Safety Equipment
I looked at the photos of the equipment. I agree with their purchase as they are for safety reasons and to assist in high violence situations.
We recently had a young man murder his parents in the Bullard/Cedar neighborhood.
There are many firearms, and many in the hands of violent, dangerous, unhinged people.
Many gun owners do not properly store their guns, allowing unlawful access to them to troubled family members.
2. Then there's the recent example of the troubled parents in another state buying their troubled son a firearm for Christmas.
He took it to school and murdered classmates. Parents and son were arrested and facing prosecution.
3 If something goes down at one of our schools due to a troubled young person with a fire arm wanting to be a "copycat killer", I want police to be able to safely rescue students and school employees.
Ditto if another location and people in it are targeted for gun violence.
4 I was raised how to properly use firearms on my late Russian immigrant grandfather's Northern California farm. That was in the 60s and 70s. Firearms were tools, like pitchforks and hammers.
They were NEVER displayed in public, stores, etc. They were NEVER used to intimidate the public.
They were used to handle problems, miles from the nearest sheriff's office. A home invasion, cattle rustling etc.
There were no drive bys and no murders out in the farming/ranching areas.
5. I think properly equipping Fresno Police ranks right up there with properly equipping the fire department and hospitals.
6. I know the mother of a little girl murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School back East.
I know the Florida father of a daughter murdered at her Florida high school by a gun toting student.
7. I have saved a young man (POC) who was kidnapped at gun point, two guns to his head, at 2pm one day in Oakland, CA. He was delivering food. Leaving a restaurant.
I was off for my vacation from a Civil Rights' Law firm.
Police and a police helicopter quickly caught up with the kidnappers.
Black Civil Rights' attorneys thanked me for my courage. They said I saved this young man from being shot execution style, dumped in the Oakland Hills.
7. I am an 0- blood donor (universal blood donor) as well. I've never gotten so many calls for my blood as I have living in Fresno. Lots of blood used in gunshot trauma cases (car crash victims, other medical emergencies). But lots are gun shot victims.
8. I've also changed CA law and I got the Safe at Home Program passed into law to protect high risk stalking, domestic violence, and sexual assault victims. It copies WA state's groundbreaking law and program.
It took me four years of hard work and testifying in Sacramento before a CA State Senate Committee. I wrote and called lots of folks to get the bill passed.
https://www.sos.ca.gov/registries/safe-home
Domestic violence victims are frequent targets of gun violence.
9. Let's be realistic about the trigger happy violent people in our community who make these purchases by Fresno Police necessary.
10. I've also had a troubled man family member, with weapons, where the SWAT team of another CA police dept was called several times to save his hostages (adults and child).
SWAT successfully saved all lives, took his weapons, held him for psychiatric care, and prosecuted him. He needed it.
Thank goodness for highly trained women & men SWAT team members. Thank goodness they all went home to their families!
a document with you from Google Docs.