City Passes Annual Fee and Mandatory Insurance for Gun Owners

In another attack on the Second Amendment, the city of San Jose has passed a new law requiring gun owners to pay an annual fee and maintain insurance coverage. The new law will go into effect in August of this year.

San Jose mayor insurance for guns

New Laws Hit Gun Owners in San Jose —

Under the new laws, gun owners must pay a $25 -$35 annual fee. The money will go to a nonprofit organization and community groups for firearm safety education, training, suicide prevention, domestic violence, and mental health services.

Gun owners must also carry homeowner’s, renter’s, or gun liability insurance policy that explicitly covers “losses or damages resulting from any negligent or accidental use of the firearm.” According to CBS News:

[the insurance] would cover losses or damages resulting from any accidental use of the firearm, including death, injury, or property damage, according to the ordinance. If a gun is stolen or lost, the owner of the firearm would be considered liable until the theft or loss is reported to authorities.

Gun owners must also carry proof of their annual payment and insurance where their guns are stored or when transporting them. Penalties for noncompliance include civil fines and the possibility of having their firearms seized.

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What Will The Ordinances Accomplish —

The council voted on each provision of the ordinance separately. Mandatory insurance for gun owners passed with a vote of 10 to one, and the annual fee passed 8 to 3.

After the ordinances passed, the architect of the gun control plan, San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, said:

This won’t stop mass shootings and keep bad people from committing violent crime

He went on to add that most gun deaths nationally are from suicide, accidental shootings, or other causes, and even many homicides stem from domestic violence.

Liccardo believes that the insurance mandate will keep the community safer because it:

would encourage people in the 55,000 households in San Jose who legally own at least one registered gun to have gun safes, install trigger locks and take gun safety classes.

gun safety

Insurance May Increase Complacency —

Is that true, though? Have you ever rented a vehicle? If you had complete coverage that would pay for anything that happened to the car, would that cause you to drive more safely than if you had limited coverage? Nope, I wouldn’t either. The entire point of holding insurance is to shift liability to someone else. An insurance mandate won’t make people use safes. It is merely a tax and burden on legal gun owners who are the easy scapegoat for rising violent crime facilitated by the backward policies of corrupt politicians.

Furthermore, no current insurance company will cover criminal behavior, and California law prohibits insurance of intentional acts.

Before the vote, people came forth to voice their opinions on the proposition. As you expected, people who had loved ones murdered by criminals with guns said how the government must do something to stop “gun violence.”

However, nothing in the two proposals would do anything to “stop gun violence,” whatever that means.

Does Money Solve the Problem —

If money solves suicide and domestic violence problems, California should be paradise. But unfortunately, California is 4th in the country regarding the amount spent on social welfare programs. For some context, California spends 21% of its total spending on social welfare programs. And suicide and domestic violence continue to rise across the country, despite more spending on these issues than ever before.

Instead, we know what this is; just another attack on law-abiding citizens’ right to own firearms.

Critics argue that the new law is unconstitutional and will do nothing to make the city safer. On the other hand, supporters say that it’s a common-sense measure that will help keep guns out of the hands of criminals. What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

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Overt Gun Control —

Laws like these are intended to frustrate law-abiding gun owners and punish them for doing something that is legal.

Politicians use these types of laws to confiscate and regulate gun ownership making no distinction between legal and illegal possession.

Not every anti-gun politician has totalitarian desires. However, every politician who has totalitarian desires (past and present) is anti-gun. An armed population makes their uncontested edicts harder to enforce. 

I believe these laws will surely face legal challenges, but in the meantime, the 9th Circut is likely to allow their enforcement.

Safe Gun Ownership —

Safe gun ownership starts with understanding the individual’s responsibility in safely handling, using, and storing the firearm. In addition, gun owners must also stay abreast of changing gun laws and laws of the states they travel to. We produce valuable content that addresses all of these elements of gun ownership. As a member of Guardian Nation, you receive access to our entire training library, as well as special discounts exclusive live interviews with industry professionals. You also receive a quarterly box filled with gear specifically for gun owners.

3 Comments

  1. Dave on January 28, 2022 at 8:45 am

    One more reason to add to my “Glad I left California list” it’s becoming a book. I cannot fathom in any way how this is remotely legal and not unconstitutional. Sad excuse for a money grab in my opinion.

    What’s the difference if you were to require further fees and insurance to speak freely, vote or attach a fee to any other God given right? I predict it will be struck down hopefully sooner than later.

  2. Jason on January 29, 2022 at 2:35 am

    Just a way to try to stop law abiding citizens from owning guns. I will never understand why our Government (Our Employees) are trying to stop legal tax payers from protecting themselves from people being let out of jail or prison earlier than they deserve.

    • Bill on February 13, 2022 at 11:23 am

      Or not even prosecuted at all. I agree with you 100%

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