Expert Discusses Local Impact Of Obama's Gun Control Proposal

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Many local gun owners say they're wondering how President Obama's changes to gun control policy will affect them.

"There are certainly a lot of symbolic aspects to the president's plan, but there is substance," according to Judy Armour, a professor of criminal law at USC.

The President's proposal in many ways overlaps with California state law, which is known for stricter gun control.

The state already prohibits semi-automatic firearms that are classified as assault weapons.

The sale and manufacturing of high-capacity magazines – ones that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition – are also already banned in California.

Some Southern California lawmakers would like to make it illegal to even own those types of ammunition clips.

"If you can't protect yourself with five, six, seven rounds then there's something wrong with you," one lawmaker told CBS2/KCAL9's Dave Lopez.

If the legislation is passed, buyers could no longer avoid a background check by purchasing guns outside of California.

"Right now, background checks are like Swiss cheese, but they're gonna be across the board if this legislation goes through," Armour said.

In order to prevent violence like that seen at Sandy Hook Elementary, the President also pledged 1,000 new school resource officers nationwide.

Armour said that resource won't make much of a difference to schools in Los Angeles, where the LAPD has already assigned one armed officer to each of its elementary and middle schools.

"It's more symbolic. The President is saying, 'I understand your pain.' There's not much they can give, given the limited resources we have though," Armour said.

The LAUSD said it could benefit from the extra funds the President's plans would allocate for increased security.

Obama also stressed schools have an emergency plan in place, something the LAUSD says it already has at each of its schools. Those plans are updated yearly.