Failure to secure a firearm in Seattle may result in a $10,000 fine. (Photo: WaGunResponsib./Twitter)
The Seattle City Council unanimously approved legislation this week that forces gun owners to store their firearms in a particular manner. Failure to comply may result in a civil infraction and a fine of up to $10,000.
The bill also requires gun owners to report any lost or stolen firearm to authorities within 24 hours. Failure to do so may result in a civil infraction and a fine of up to $1,000.
Seattle Mayor Jenny A. Durkan applauded the action as a way to “save lives.”
“This is the kind of action we need to save lives. While we can’t prevent every gun death or injury, we can take steps to help prevent future tragedies,” said Mayor Durkan in a press release.
“We know that unsecured, unsafely stored guns help fuel this crisis of violence because they are more likely to cause accidents, fall into the wrong hands, or be used in suicides. Requiring that gun owners responsibly store their guns can help make our communities safer places to live. In the coming weeks, I will sign this legislation into law– and we will keep acting to prevent tragedies,” she continued.
SEE ALSO: Seattle Gun Tax Turning Out to be Another Miserable Gun Control Failure
Under the impending law, gun owners must secure all firearms in locked containers when they are not under their control or carried on their person.
“Safe storage is a core element of responsible gun ownership,” said City Attorney Pete Holmes. “It’s been an honor to work with Mayor Durkan and the City Council to develop this common-sense gun safety legislation meant to save lives. The status quo clearly hasn’t kept guns out of the hands of children or other unauthorized users.”
The law will take effect 180 days after Mayor Durkan signs it. But maybe not. Gun-rights activists are currently making moves to upend this misguided storage mandate.
Responsible gun owners secure their weapons. My co-workers son easily found his father’s handgun which was thought to be safely hidden.
This 18yr old took the revolver to school where he threatened his ex girlfriend.
The weapon discharged killing her and he was found guilty of 2nd degree murder.
This was in the mid eighties and no laws were established for unsecured weapons or punishing those responsible for the access.
This was my wake-up call of learning the easy way at someone else’s expense.
My safe was expensive, but not as expensive as a trial, watching someone’s son spend 25+ years in San Quenten and having to face the family of a dead 17 year old daughter.
Responsible gun owners secure their firearms, laws or no laws.
I am posting a 3rd comment because I feel the need to address your complaints
First
Another unenforceable “feel-good” law….without a warrant, how are they going to enter your house to prove you’re in compliance? Thats easy when you call them after someone broke into your domicile and stole your unsecured firearms. That is the best case scenario. Worst case when you call them to report accidental shooting that killed or hurt a family member or friend.
Second
SO ONLY THE RICH THAT CAN AFFORD GUN SAFES CAN OWN A GUN TO DEFEND THEMSELVES. WHEN THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT THERE IS HANDING OUT FREE TRIGGER LOCKS. This is bad if you can afford a firearm[s] Then you can afford a $ 500.00 or less decent safe or a $ 170.00 Handgun Speed Vault. The speed Vault covers Because a gun in a safe is useless in a home invasion. That’s why, commit. These are new bet you can find used even cheaper.
Third
Fine people up to $10,000 for not having their guns locked up? When you are not home all that separates your unsecured firearms from a thief is 1 or 2 1/8″ panes of glass otherwise known as windows. Has I stated 80% of firearms taken off the streets are stolen. Is the $10,000 fine worth someones life and knowing that your firearm was used to take that life?
The Sandy Hook Elementary shooting facts I posted earlier is true and accurate. I live 11miles away from there. SAVE A LIFE AND LOCK UP YOUR EXTRA UNLOADED FIREARMS. AND KEEP THE LOADED ONE YOU NEED FOR PROTECTION ON YOU OR IN A SPEED VAULT. The more we show that we care and respect firearms, The harder it will be for anti gunners to take them away. This is common sense if we all did this there would not be a need for a stupid law.
We need laws making gun owners lock up their firearms. Example on December 14, 2012 a women with various firearms was killed after her son who had mental illness took her firearms out of an unlocked gun cabinet that had a glass door and shot her to death with her own 22 rifle. He then took her assault weapon, shotgun and 9mm pistol to Sandy Hook elementary school and fatally shot 20 children between six and seven years old, as well as six adult staff members. I cannot state with a100% confidence that if she had them in a locked safe that he could not gotten into the shooting would not have happened. But I can state her guns would not have been used
I have all but 2 pistols locked in a gun safe. My ammo is locked in another safe. The 2 pistols are in a quick release gun vaults in strategic areas. When I am home those vaults are open and there is a good chance one is on me for carry. 80% of firearms confiscated off the streets is stolen. For even if my vaults are closed my fingerprint will open it in a second. Lock your extra guns up and have the right home defense weapon available.
Fine people up to $10,000 for not having their guns locked up? Why not make the fine $100,000 or $1,000,000? We should also fine people for not locking up their knives, hammers, martial arts weapons, and cars. Or we could lay the blame at the feet of the person who murders others. After a trial by an impartial jury the sentence is death by hanging for murderers who have adequate evidence against them.
It’s simple. Lock up your guns. Why wouldn’t you already be doing that?
Because a gun in a safe is useless in a home invasion. That’s why.
I have all but 2 pistols locked in a gun safe. My ammo is locked in another safe. The 2 pistols are in a quick release gun vaults in strategic areas. When I am home those vaults are open and there is a good chance one is on me for carry. 80% of firearms confiscated off the streets is stolen. So don’t give me that a gun in a safe is useless bogus junk. For even if my vaults are closed my fingerprint will open it on a second. Lock your extra guns up and have the right home defense weapon available.
SO ONLY THE RICH THAT CAN AFFORD GUN SAFES CAN OWN A GUN TO DEFEND THEMSELVES. WHEN THE LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENT THERE IS HANDING OUT FREE TRIGGER LOCKS.
As a gun owner of 17 rifles, 2 shotguns, & 18 handguns I feel that both laws are common sense laws:
1. Why wouldn’t someone report a stolen firearm to police authorities within 24 hours of noting the theft?
2. Most accidental shooting of children is due to them finding a non-secured loaded gun. Instead of a paranoid fear of a Police State busting down your door without a warrant picture police responding to your address because of a fatal or near fatal accidental gun discharge. I thing the later would be a more likely occurrence.
I keep all my firearms secured in locked gun safes when I am not actually using them. My 22 years in the Marine Corps taught me to have a healthy respect for what guns can do to human flesh and for a conscious respect for gun safety.
A little common sense can go a long way if one bothers to use it.
Seattle went the way of California decades ago, it’s just putting the finishing touches on is all. There is absolutely zero common sense there, just as these infringements are peddled as “common sense” That’s always special coming libs who can’t even figure out what gender they are or which bathroom one should use.
Seattle is a beautiful city. Too bad the liberals had to screw it up.
Would rather be alive and in trouble than dead right!
The Emerald City used to be such a beautiful place to live. The exodus of southern CA residents to the area with their liberal attitudes has ruined it. They are buying plane tickets to ship the homeless out of town and dump them in someone else’s lap now that big business in town rejected the ‘head tax’ the City Council tried to levy on them.
Politicians need to keep their politics out of our homes and bedrooms! The Castle Doctrine is good policy.
Another unenforceable “feel-good” law….without a warrant, how are they going to enter your house to prove you’re in compliance? And, of course, there will be anti-gunners out there “ratting out” their neighbors just because they don’t like guns and want to do anything to get the legitimate gun owner in trouble.