San Jose first American city to mandate gun owners carry insurance, pay a fee

San Jose, California seems to be the first U.S. city that will be enforcing an ordinance requiring the majority of gun owners to pay a fee as well as carry liability insurance.

A statement released Tuesday night by Mayor Sam Liccardo said the City Council voted to approve both measures to take aim at reducing the risk of gun harm in addition to relieving taxpayers of the cost of gun violence.

Despite facing major opposition from gun owners, promising future lawsuits over violation of their Second Amendment rights, the council approved the measures overwhelmingly. The ordinance will still need to garner approval at one last reading last month before it is able to take effect in the Silicon Valley city this upcoming August. 

Mayor Liccardo said the funds gathered from the fees will be collected into “evidence-based initiatives to reduce gun violence and gun harm.” The cost is expected to be around $25 according the Bay City News.

Requiring liability insurance is meant to urge gun owners in the city of San Josey to invest in other safety measures like having gun safes, installing trigger locks, and taking gun safety classes. But under the new rules, gun owners who do not get the insurance will not lose their guns or face criminal charges. 

“Thank you to my council colleagues who continue to show their commitment to reducing gun violence and its devastation in our community,” Liccardo said.

He added that the new measures will assist in building a “constitutionally compliant path to mitigate the unnecessary suffering from gun harm in our community.” Liccardo said he has hopes that other cities will “replicate these initiatives across the nation.”