As Protests Grow Over Banko Brown’s Murder, Supervisor Preston Seeks to Limit Use of Guns By Security Guards

SAN FRANCISCO — Following the tragic murder of Banko Brown and subsequent protests over a lack of transparency by the District Attorney’s Office, Supervisor Dean Preston today will announce legislation to limit private security guards’ use of guns. The legislation will amend the Police Code to clarify that guards are not to unholster their weapons unless there is an actual and specific threat to a person.

"San Francisco law currently states that private security guards can unholster their weapons– which is considered a serious escalation for any interaction– to protect property," stated Preston. "Property should never be placed above human life and our laws should be crystal clear on that."

Although California state law allows security guards to carry guns, San Francisco has its own regulatory scheme for private security guards under Article 25 of the Police Code. Section 1750.20 of the San Francisco Police Code currently states that a guard may "draw or exhibit other than in a holster any handgun ... in response to an actual and specific threat to person and/or property," which has drawn sharp criticism from advocates and community members.

"Banko Brown deserved due process and grace, however he was not afforded this fundamental right," said Geoffrea Morris, an attorney and community activist who has been working with the Young Women’s Freedom Center and the family of Banko Brown. "Removing references to 'property' as a justification for an armed guard to unholster a gun takes us one step closer to making sure that San Francisco upholds its own values of putting people over property."

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