SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Sacramento could become the second California city requiring gun owners to have liability insurance policies to cover any accidental injury or damage caused by their firearms under a gun control proposal going through the Sacramento city council.
The proposal, introduced to the city council by Mayor Darrell Steinberg and Councilmember Lisa Kaplan, would enact four rule changes to the city’s firearm and weapons codes.
It passed unanimously out of the Law and Legislative Committee Tuesday and now heads to the full council for a vote.
“This proposal is not going to solve gun violence in our city, but is a step in the right direction and the beginning of the changing of the culture. These gun proposals are starting the conversation to create change we need in our city to reduce gun violence, especially among our youth," Kaplan said in a statement to ABC10.
Two such changes would require gun owners to obtain liability insurance to cover losses and damages from accidental use of firearms, and a new annual $25 harm reduction fee would be instituted for gun owners on each gun they own. The future funds would go to a nonprofit focused on gun violence education and prevention.
These proposals are based on similar laws already established in San Jose. Those laws were passed in 2022, but immediately challenged in court by gun rights advocates.
A district court upheld both the insurance requirement and harm reduction fee as constitutional in July 2023, and last September, KQED reported an appellate court dismissed a Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association appeal over the fee.
Though the legal challenges are likely to continue, the recent court rulings have given the Sacramento city council clearance to implement similar regulations in the city.
If council passes the new ordinances, gun owners would need to have liability insurance for their firearms either as a standalone insurance policy, or covered by their homeowners or renter’s insurance.
“The fact is responsible firearm ownership is essential,” said Councilmember Eric Guerra at the committee hearing. “And that includes recognizing (firearms) are a liability [sic] just like your car.”
Under the proposal all Sacramento residents who own firearms would need to obtain insurance no later than 30 days if it’s adopted.
People would be required to keep proof of insurance wherever the guns are stored or transported.
The Sacramento Police Department would be in charge of enforcement. Anyone found in violation could be issued a citation starting at $250.
The harm reduction fee would be collected by a nonprofit organization selected by the city. In turn, the nonprofit would use the collected fees to offer gun owners or their families and friends access to certain gun safety programs.
Gun owners would need to keep a receipt showing the paid fee alongside their firearm. Anyone found without a receipt could be issued a citation.
Active and retired police officers - along with people who have concealed carry licenses - are exempt from the liability and fee requirements.
There are also provisions to help gun owners who are experiencing financial hardships cover the costs of the harm reduction fee.
The city would also ban anyone 18 years or younger from entering a gun dealership and would ban the sale of firearms from home-based businesses.
Advocates argue the four changes will help Sacramento address gun violence throughout the city.
“It’s imperative that we act. I think if we don’t we’ll continue to lose lives,” said Leia Schenk, the founder of Empact. “...We have to act, we have to do something and the time is now.”
Opponents like Sam Paredes, the executive director of Gun Owners of California, argue the four changes are “do nothing” policies.
“This proposal will have zero impact on gun violence,” Paredes said. “...[it’s] feel-good legislation that does absolutely nothing.”
Paredes argues the new proposals only criminalize lawful gun owners when the council should instead be focusing on addressing gang violence.
Additionally, if the proposals go into effect, Paredes said Gun Owners of California would explore launching a lawsuit.
The city council will hold a community roundtable discussion to work through any amendments to the measures before bringing it to a full vote.
