Santa Barbara News-Press: April 24, 2022

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Commitment to community

Out of control

Charlie Uhrig retires after long law enforcement career built on perseverance - B1

Columnist James Buckley laments the state of government spending - C1

Our 166th Year

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Su n day, A PR I L 2 4 , 2 02 2

Police discuss ghost guns, gang violence SB County law enforcement talks to News-Press about incidents, statistics By KAITLYN SCHALLHORN

bit elusive. “Ghost guns” is the moniker used to describe firearms typically made by kits or parts that do not include serial numbers — making them virtually untraceable. Parts can be bought online, often from multiple vendors, or made from 3D printers. The effort can cost as little as a few hundred dollars and take less than 30 minutes to assemble just like a puzzle.

NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

In the aftermath of the mass shooting in Sacramento earlier this month, calls to further regulate or ban ghost guns rang out. It begged the question: Are ghost guns a problem in Santa Barbara County? But the answer to that, much like the nickname of the homemade firearms suggests, is a

“Ghost guns are an issue all across the nation. They’ve become a real problem for law enforcement and our communities,” Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown told the News-Press in an interview. “Ghost guns are absolutely prevalent in Santa Barbara,” Sgt. Ethan Ragsdale, a spokesperson for the Santa Barbara Police Department, echoed. Following the mass shooting in Sacramento, just steps from

the state Capitol, the Biden administration implemented a new rule banning “buy build shoot” kits people could purchase without a background check and easily assemble into a firearm. The rule said these weapons must be licensed and serialized. Additionally, the rule mandated federally licensed dealers and gunsmiths to serialize any weapons they have that do not have a serial number. Please see GHOST GUNS on A6

SB honors the planet Community Environmental Council’s Earth Day celebration returns to Santa Barbara

COURTESY PHOTO

Sheriff Bill Brown

Earth Day rally held at UCSB By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

The California Public Interests Research Group (CALPIRG) hosted a rally at UCSB’s Storke Tower on Saturday. The rally

was billed as a day of action to celebrate the planet and a call for action on plastic pollution in online deliveries. “We had people meet and make Please see RALLY on A5

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS

UCSB students took part in an Earth Day rally on the UCSB campus on Saturday.

Former Sen. Orrin Hatch dies at 88 By MATT SMOLENSKY NEWS-PRESS ASSOCIATE EDITOR

KENNETH SONG / NEWS-PRESS PHOTOS

Attendees bounce between booths in the lobby of the Arlington Theatre during the Community Environmental Council’s Santa Barbara Earth Day Celebration on Saturday.

By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER

On Saturday, the Community Environmental Council (CEC) Earth Day event returned inperson to Santa Barbara for the first time since 2019. The event has been virtual the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is special that we are back in-person, and different because we are at the Arlington Theatre,” Kathi King, director of climate education and leadership for the CEC, told the News-Press. “The intersection of climate and culture through art is something that we have been exploring … Helping people to connect to climate change through where their heart is,” said Ms. King, who has been with the organization since 2008. In previous years, the event has been held at Alameda Park since 2009. The celebration was held at the Arlington Theatre rather than Alameda Park this year due to the Please see EARTH DAY on A5

Electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids were featured during the event.

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Former Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah

nine Senate Majority Leaders, chairing the Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee, Judiciary Committee and Finance Committee. “This breaks my heart,” Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, said of Mr. Hatch’s death in a tweet. “Abby and I are so grateful for the opportunities we had to spend time with this incredible public servant. He was always so kind and generous with his time and wisdom. Utah mourns with the Hatch family.” email: msmolensky@newspress.com

LOTTERY

i n s i de Classified.............. A8 Life..................... B1-4 Obituaries............. A4

Former Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah died at 88 on Saturday, according to a press release from his foundation. Mr. Hatch was the longestserving U.S. senator ever to represent Utah, serving for 42 years from 1977 to 2019. He also served as Senate president pro tempore during his time in Washington, D.C. Mr. Hatch also served as the chairman emeritus of the Hatch Foundation, an organization aimed at promoting civic engagement and political discourse. “A man of wisdom, kindness, character, and compassion, Orrin G. Hatch was everything a United States Senator should be,” said A. Scott Anderson, chairman of the Hatch Foundation, in an interview with CNN. “He exemplified a generation of lawmakers brought up on the principles of comity and compromise, and he embodied those principles better than anyone. In a nation divided, Orrin Hatch helped show us a better way by forging meaningful friendships on both sides of the aisle.” Mr. Hatch served in the Senate through the administrations of seven U.S. Presidents and

Sudoku................. B3 Weather................ A4

Saturday’s SUPER LOTTO: 13-19-21-22-39 Mega: 9

Saturday’s DAILY 4: 5-0-7-4

Friday’s MEGA MILLIONS: 7-28-29-58-59 Mega: 10

Saturday’s FANTASY 5: 13-16-20-29-32

Saturday’s DAILY DERBY: 12-03-09 Time: 1:42.18

Saturday’s POWERBALL: 10-39-47-49-56 Meganumber: 8

Saturday’s DAILY 3: 4-0-7 / Midday 5-5-3


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