Image source: CNN
On Friday evening, a burglary at the home of Rep. Karen Bass resulted in the theft of two firearms.
The news was revealed in a statement released Saturday by the Los Angeles mayoral candidate.
What happened
Bass arrived home on Friday to find signs of a break-in, prompting her to call the police.
According to her, the thief stole firearms, which were “safely and securely stored,” leaving behind cash, electronics, and other valuables.
“It’s unnerving and, unfortunately, it’s something that far too many Angelenos have faced,” said Bass.
Rep. Karen Bass lives in the Baldwin Vista neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Firearms and burglary
Sarah Leonard Sheahan, Bass’ communications director, confirmed that the guns belonged to members of Congress.
She also said they were secured in a Brinks locker. According to Leonard Sheahan, the guns were legally registered handguns, and Bass never applied for a license to carry a gun.
She also revealed that no one was home during the burglary.
On Saturday night, the Los Angeles Police Department asked for the public’s help in sharing leads on the burglary suspect.
“Hispanic, standing 5 feet 9 inches tall, weighing 200 pounds,” the detectives described.
Crime and safety in LA
The Los Angeles Times co-sponsored a poll last month that found 77% of voters wanted a more down-to-earth candidate who would crack down on crime.
The sentiments come from a study that found that citywide burglaries will increase by 15% by 2022, and crime has become a major topic in the race for mayor.
In a previous debate, Bass was asked to rate how safe she felt around her neighborhood on a scale of 1 to 10.
“I do feel safe. I would say a 10,” said Bass.
“I feel safe, but I do understand that a lot of people around the city do not feel safe, and I respect that.”
How Karen Bass learned to use a weapon
Bass learned how to wield a weapon in Los Angeles in the late 1970s as an organizer of the Venceremos Brigade in California.
The Venceremos Brigade is a group formed in 1983 to show solidarity with the Cuban revolution, according to The Times.
Bass says an LAPD officer taught him how to use a gun.
According to her, the officer “encouraged a wide variety of people who have had leadership responsibilities in LA’s progressive community to learn how to use firearms.”
Read also: Calls for Stricter Gun Control Laws Ring Loud from Oregon
LA mayoral election
Karen Bass has been a congresswoman for six years and represents parts of the Westside and South Los Angeles.
With Election Day less than two months away, she has built a double-digit lead over Rick Caruso, a billionaire mall developer, in the polls for mayor.
The race has heated up recently and the two have come into focus over their relationship with USC, which has struggled with several scandals in recent years.
Bass is facing questions about a $95,000 scholarship USC awarded her in 2011.
Federal prosecutors said the grant was “crucial” to their investigation into allegations of corruption in the university’s social work program.
Bass’s campaign targeted USC board member Caruso for failing to protect women in college.
The attacks are linked to allegations of sexual abuse against former campus gynecologist George Tyndall.
References:
Rep. Karen Bass says her Los Angeles home was burglarized, two firearms stolen
2 guns stolen during break-in at LA home of mayoral candidate Karen Bass
Two firearms stolen in burglary at home of LA mayoral candidate Karen Bass
