Fear of Vigilantism Prompts Gun Proposal

OAKLAND — An Alameda County supervisor, alarmed that society is “on the edge of vigilantism,” has proposed get-tough policies on illegal gun possession, including putting first-time offenders under house arrest, as opposed to the usual probation.

Supervisor Don Perata said the idea behind the proposals, which will go to the Board of Supervisors next month, is to ask judges to adopt a policy of sentencing gun offenders to either jail, house arrest or 750 hours of community service.