Liability Insurance Bill For Gun Owners Introduced

Two state Assemblymembers have introduced legislation that would require gun owners to purchase liability insurance.

Assembly Bill 231 would require the owners to cover damages incurred from incidents stemming from their firearms. The bill was introduced Feb. 5 by Assemblymembers Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, and Jimmy Gomez, D-Los Angeles.

"The government requires insurance as a condition of operating a car—at the very least we should impose a similar requirement for owning a firearm," Ting said in a statement.

Gomez said under the legislation, individuals would receive a more affordable policy if they use a trigger lock for their firearms and take part in training courses.

Ting also introduced Assembly Bill 232, which would provide state income tax credits for people who participate in local gun buyback programs, with a cap of $1,000.

"Gun buyback programs are an effective way to reduce the number of guns in circulation, and lower the risk of intentional or accidental damage by these weapons," Ting said.

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—For comprehensive coverage of the Los Gatos gun retailer Templar Sports controversy, please click here.