Calif. Law Would Force Gun Owners to Buy Insurance

[ttown]

Calif. Law Would Force Gun Owners to Buy Insurance


http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/loc...Gun-Owners-to-Buy-Insurance-189918311.html?dr

I love some of the comments....lol

Maybe we can require everyone to carry uninsured killer coverage.

 

[Arin Morris]

I hate it when people compare firearms with cars. Cars are a privilege, arms are a right! A co-worker tried to use the same example for his take on why arms should be registered.

 

[10Seconds]

Unfortunately, we know the government CAN force you to buy insurance based on the US Supreme court ruling on Obamacare.

I think this is just another attempt to drive up the cost of gun ownership and thus make them less available.

 

[ttown]

They mention the NRA insurance coverage. I looked into that when I got my CCW and it seems it will cover your court cost if it's a good shoot so I'm not sure why they would mention that. If your found guilty of something stupid it's no good IIRC

 

[Raoul Duke]

The Supreme Court has also ruled poll taxes are unconstitutional. This is the equivalent of a second amendment poll tax.

 

[Dr. HK]

I am unable to see the comments

 

[n2sooners]

Cars only have to be registered if you are driving them on public roads. They don't have to be registered if they are on a trailer or driven on private property. So I think we should register all guns that are dragged down the road.

And correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think car insurance covers vehicles used in the commission of a crime and I don't think it covers anything but the vehicle itself if the car is stolen.

 

[Cinaet]

I am unable to see the comments

Here you go doc:

Source: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/loca...to-Buy-Insurance-189918311.html#ixzz2KAA8CsHy

Calif. Law Would Force Gun Owners to Buy Insurance

"Democratic lawmakers proposed legislation Tuesday that would require California gun owners to buy liability insurance to cover damages or injuries caused by their weapons.

Similar bills have been introduced in other states after the Newtown, Conn., school massacre. They include Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and New York.
"I was moved, like many others, being the father of two young children, by the Sandy Hook incident and looking for constructive ways to manage gun violence here in California as well as the rest of the country,'' said Assemblyman Philip Ting of San Francisco, who introduced AB231 along with Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez of Los Angeles. "There's basically a cost that is born by the taxpayers when accidents occur. ... I don't think that taxpayers should be footing those bills.''

Ting equated the idea to requiring vehicle owners to buy auto insurance. Gomez said it would encourage gun owners to take firearms safety classes and keep their guns locked up to get lower insurance rates.
No state has enacted the requirement despite repeated previous attempts, said Jon Griffin, a policy analyst with the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Bills have been offered unsuccessfully in Massachusetts and New York since at least 2003, when the conference began keeping track, he said. Similar bills were proposed in Illinois in 2009 and in Pennsylvania last year. Lawmakers are introducing the bills this year in even more states after the recent shootings.

Some proposals would require buyers to show proof of insurance before they could purchase a weapon. The proposal in California would apply to anyone owning a weapon, Ting said, though the bill's details are still being worked out.

Sam Paredes, executive director of Gun Owners of California, said most gun owners already act responsibly and can be sued for damages if they don't.

He said the proposal is part of an ongoing attempt to "price gun owners out of existence,'' particularly the law-abiding poor who live in crime-ridden areas and need protection the most. Criminals would ignore the law, he said.

Moreover, he questioned whether it is constitutional to require someone to buy insurance to exercise a constitutional right.

"If they don't address it in committee, I'll guarantee they'll have to address it in court,'' Paredes said.

Ting said he and Gomez plan to work with gun owners and opponents to craft a constitutional bill. It will not require insurance companies to offer gun insurance, but will encourage them to enter the market.

He noted that the National Rifle Association itself already offers its members the chance to buy liability insurance, despite its opposition to requiring gun owners to buy such policies.

Ting also introduced AB232, which would give a state income-tax credit of up to $1,000 to anyone who turns in a firearm to a local gun buyback program. The amount of the credit would be determined based on the value of the weapon."


Source: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/loca...to-Buy-Insurance-189918311.html#ixzz2KA9bPx95

 

[Dale00]

Gun violence liability insurance is clearly a win-win situation.

It raises the cost of gun ownership helping take guns away from citizens plus there are sure to be additional campaign contributions from the insurance companies who profit. It also makes a great sound bite - "California making you safer in so many ways."

 

[flatwins]

I think in 20 years* we'll be referring to today as the "glory days" of firearms ownership.

* probably less