‘Fruit stops’ should screen out expanded magazine guns

clean record before spraying a dance hall with 42 fast-fired bullets.

But there’s already that network of examining stations where vehicles could be inspected and illegal guns very possibly found and neutralized.

From the publisher HAYLEY MATTSON

THOMAS D. ELIAS OPINION COLUMNIST

Many Californians feel perplexed in the wake of several mass shootings this state endured in January, two by senior citizens who targeted dozens of innocents and killed at least 18. Only the bravery of an Alhambra dance hall manager prevented the carnage from becoming much worse.

At least one gun used in the mass murders was illegal in California, the Cobray automatic repeating pistol with an expanded ammunition magazine and an apparently homemade sound suppresser wielded by Monterey Park shooter Huu Can Tran, 72, before he killed himself when cornered by police in Torrance, more than 28 miles from his crime scene.

Guns and magazines like Tran’s often go undetected until they’re used in serious crimes. In part, this may be the result of a longstanding, misplaced state priority: the extreme underuse of border protection stations California built decades ago to shield agriculture from pests and diseases.

Tran’s weapon cannot now be sold legally in California, but authorities reported he bought it in 1999, before expanded handgun magazines were outlawed here. No one knows when it entered the state.

But the arrival and later misuse of many similar weapons in California very possibly could be prevented if state lawmakers cared enough. Most such guns enter the state in cars, trucks or RVs. It’s almost impossible for them to come here by air, as virtually all types of rearms are quickly detected by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) wherever commercial planes take o . ey could enter by train, but that is at least deterred by Amtrak’s random baggage inspections, even if they’re not as frequent and obtrusive as screening of airline passengers.

Gov. Gavin Newsom was clearly correct when he lamented that no matter how strong California gun laws become, they can be thwarted by folks who visit other states to buy weapons not available here.

For sure, no background check anywhere would have ruled out a purchase by Tran, who had a e stations sit on or beside inbound lanes near every major California entry point – along Interstate 80 at Truckee, on I-15 at Mountain Pass, on U.S. 101 near the Smith River, on State Route 139 at Tulelake, on I-5 at Hornbrook near the Oregon line, at Meyers on U.S. 50 and along interstates at Blythe and Needles near the Arizona border. e 16 current stations sometimes go unsta ed. But those wide open times are irregular and unpredictable for folks wanting to smuggle in weapons banned by California. ese stations could quickly gear up to scan or screen vehicles for guns. Starting this would take no more than training up a few dozen Highway Patrol ocers to supplement the Food and Agriculture workers already at the fruit stops. Deploying some new CHIPs for this kind of duty around the clock could close the wide loophole through which unknown quantities of guns like Tran’s enter the state. e fact this doesn’t happen and has never been seriously proposed as a state budget item demonstrates a awed sense of priorities. Essentially, it says protecting plants is more important than protecting people. e dead and wounded on the bloody oor of that Monterey Park dance hall were just one possible consequence.

So far, no one in power has thought to use the agricultural protection stations unique to California entry points for seeking out illegal weaponry. Rather, they exclusively examine fruits and vegetables before any are allowed into the state. Some vehicles are searched more thoroughly than others, but not for weapons. Without much controversy, inspectors look for weevils and other bugs that can decimate forests and elds.

Sure, anyone who’s determined can circumvent these points, but only with signi cant inconvenience. There are no stations (many call them “fruit stops’) along State Route 374 where cars from Nevada can enter California through Death Valley, nor on U.S. 95 south of Las Vegas or on State Route 167, where cars from Nevada can begin to cross over the Tioga Pass entry to Yosemite National Park, to name a few.

Thomas Elias is an independent opinion columnist for The Malibu Times; you can email him at tdelias@aol.com.

Indepedent columnist may not reflect the view, opinion and/or ethics of the The Malibu Times. To send a response to the column email us at editorial@malibutimes.com City

As a publisher of The Malibu Times, I often receive letters to the editor from members of our community. It’s always great to read what people have to say about the issues that matter to them and to provide a platform for their voices to be heard. Writing a letter to the editor can be a powerful way to engage with your community and to make your thoughts and opinions known.

If you’re considering writing a letter to the editor, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Choose a timely topic: Write about something that is relevant and in the news. is will help increase the chances of your letter being published and ensure that your message is timely and relevant to our community. Keep it concise: Letters to the editor in the Malibu Times are usually limited to 200300 words, so it’s important to be clear and to the point. Avoid using overly complex language and get straight to the point.

• Be respectful: No matter how passionate you are about a particular issue, it’s important to present your opinions in a respectful and civil manner. Avoid using in ammatory language or making personal attacks, as this will detract from the impact of your message and may not align with the values of our community.

• Make a clear argument: Explain why you feel the way you do and support your argument with facts and examples. Address the issue at hand and don’t just express a general opinion. Be personal: Share a story or personal experience that relates to the issue you’re writing about. This will help make your letter more relatable and engaging for our readers.

• Edit carefully: Before you submit your letter, be sure to read it over several times and check for spelling and grammar errors. Make sure that your argument is clear and well-organized.

By following these tips, you can write an impactful and compelling letter to the editor for e Malibu Times that will engage our community and help shape public opinion, our goal is to ll page 2 with your letters.

Submit your letter to editorial@malibutimes.com

Your voice is important, and I look forward to reading what you have to say in the pages of e Malibu Times In addition, be sure to join us this Friday at 8:30 a.m. for the Malibu Business Round Table. If you need to be added to the reminder list, email us at o ce@malibutimes.com to be added.

The Malibu Round Table

Friday, February 3 from 8:30 to 10 a.m.

Each month the agenda consists of:

The community is welcome to join the meeting by sending an email to us at o ce@malibutimes.com, and we will add you to the email invitation.

The Malibu Times, along with the Malibu Chamber of Commerce, look to make each meeting informative and engaging, allow for open conversations and an in-depth look at what is important to the community and keep everyone well informed. We look forward to seeing you.

Hayley

Hayley

Nic Mattson

Cami Martin

Samantha Bravo

Michael Chaldu

Evan Rodda, Neil Schumaker, Jen Rodman, Benson Moore

Devon Meyers, Julie Ellerton

Jimy Tallal, Judy Abel, McKenzie Jackson, Ted Vaill, Burt Ross, Kim Devore, Emmanuel Luissi, Kathryn Alice Mary Abbott, Anthony McDemas, Dorie Leo

Local water agencies allocated more water

The latest rain storms have made a dent in lling reservoirs prompting the State Water Project to allocate more water to local agencies. Deliveries from Northern California could increase to 30 percent, up from just 5 percent in recent months when reservoirs were near deadpool conditions. O cials emphasize the drought though is not over.

FRIDAY 65º | 47º

PARTLY CLOUDY

SATURDAY 65º | 49º

PARTLY CLOUDY

SUNDAY 64º | 49º

SUNNY

MONDAY 64º | 49º

SUNNY

TUESDAY 66º | 49º

SUNNY

WEDNESDAY 65º | 49º

SUNNY

Sirens

The following incidents were reported between:

JAN

8 - jan 16

 1/8 | Grand theft

A property on Bonsell Drive was vandalized, and a vinyl fence worth $3,000 was stolen. A deputy canvassed the area and noticed the property was not secured and opened for public access. ere were no security cameras available for evidence.

 1/13 | Vehicle Burglary

A vehicle parked near Surfrider Beach was broken into, and an iPhone wallet and keys were stolen. e victim left the key underneath the front fender, went sur ng, and upon return, the key was missing, and their vehicle was ransacked. e victim received a noti cation that an estimated $23,936 was charged at an Apple Store in Canoga Park. e deputy was unable to visit the Apple Store to follow up on the fraudulent charge. ere were no security cameras available for evidence. e iPhone was worth $1,300.

 1/14 | Burglary

A vehicle parked near Topanga State Beach was broken into and ransacked. e victim left the key underneath the front bumper, went sur ng, and upon return, the key was missing, and the vehicle was left open. e victim received a noti cation that their credit card was being used at an Apple Store. A $25,000 charge was denied, but a $34,000 charge was successful.

 1/16 | Burglary

A vehicle parked near Surfrider Beach was broken into, and a designer ring and watch were stolen. e victim hid the key underneath the rear bumper, and upon return, the key was missing and their vehicle was ransacked. e ring was worth $25,000, and the watch was worth $10,000. ere were no security cameras available for evidence.

Watering restrictions are still in place in Waterworks District 29 that supplies Malibu and the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District that serves the Malibu hills and surrounding communities.

LACOWW29 Malibu customers are still limited to only two days per week for 10-minute periods for outdoor watering. LVMWD customers are restricted to watering only once a week for only 8 minutes per station.

Mandatory water use restrictions in e ect due to drought

With the current drought estimated to be considerably more extreme than the 2015 drought, the Los Angeles County Waterworks Districts (LACWD) has issued mandatory water use restrictions for communities including the City of Malibu, which is served by Waterworks District 29. LACWD asks all customers to cut back their water usage by 30 percent. Outdoor and lawn watering is restricted to two days a week based on address numbering and property type:

Tuesdays and Fridays — residential even number

Mondays and ursdays — residential odd number

• Mondays and Fridays — commercial

10 minutes per station maximum

• Only allowed between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m.

Separately, the City of Malibu also prohibits spray irrigation between 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and prohibits any landscape irrigation within 48 hours of signi cant rainfall. See all of the City’s water conservation rules. See the complete list of LACWD water use restrictions, at LACWaterworks.org.

Point Dume access road and parking lot closed due to storm damage

e Point Dume access road is closed from the end of Westward Beach Road at the parking kiosk to the entrance to the Point Dume parking lot due to storm damage. e edge of the road and the restroom building by the entrance to Point Dume parking lot are heavily eroded and at risk of collapse.

e Los Angeles County Beaches and Harbors Department has been doing emergency repair work on the site for the last two weeks, in close coordination with the California Coastal Commission. Access to Birdview Avenue remains open. e beach itself remains open, but there is no vehicle access beyond the end of Westward Beach Road.

e beach is heavily eroded, and very high tides continue, causing hazardous conditions, so beachgoers are advised to stay away. ere is no current estimate for reopening the access road, parking lot and bathroom. For further questions, call Beaches and Harbors at (424) 526-7777.

City Council will begin hybrid and in-person meetings starting March 27

e Malibu City Council voted on Jan. 23 to begin holding City Council meetings in a hybrid in-person and remote format starting March 27, as Los Angeles County continues the trend of low COVID-19 conditions. e Council directed the city’s commissions, committees and boards to continue meeting virtually.

“It has been nearly three years now since the COVID-19 pandemic forced us all to adapt to living in semi-isolation and using