成人X站

MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Seattle politician aims to take safe gun storage law national

Oct 17, 2019, 6:09 AM

gun control, safe storage, gun law, laws, safe gun storage...

(US Air Force photo)

(US Air Force photo)

Seattle passed and implemented a safe gun storage law over the past year. Now, one of its higher lawmakers wants to take such gun control regulations nationwide.

鈥淓stablishing reasonable, common sense standards for storing guns and gun locks in the home is just one simple part of the responsibility we have to keep children and families safe,鈥 said Rep. Pramila Jayapal in a statement Wednesday. 鈥淚t is our moral imperative to do all we can to prevent the all-too-frequent occurrence of gun violence, and I鈥檓 proud to partner with Rep. Engel in introducing this important piece of legislation.鈥

Initial numbers from Seattle鈥檚 safe gun storage law are in 鈥 sort of

Jayapal represents Washington’s 7th congressional district, which covers Edmonds through Seattle and Burien, and Vashon Island. Along with Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), she is the Safe Gun Storage Act in Washington D.C. HR 4691 was introduced Thursday.

They argue that a majority of gun owners (54 percent) do not safely store their firearms, and that 34 percent of homes with guns also have youth ages 18 years and younger. They further argue that 18 percent of all gun injuries happen because of improperly stored guns.

Little is known, yet, about exactly what is in the bill (the representatives did not include a copy in their press releases about it), but a statement about the Safe Gun Storage Act says that it will direct the “Consumer Protection Safety Commission to establish safety standards for firearm safes and firearm locks.”

While gun safety and crime is often cited as a reason for such safe storage regulations, Engel points out that suicide prevention is a primary goal with this legislation.

鈥淥ur nation has been plagued with gun violence. But what too often gets lost in the debate is the suicide rate by firearm,鈥 Rep. Engel said. 鈥淵outh suicide rates are already staggeringly high and have been trending upward. We must decrease them, and we can, by ensuring firearm safes and firearm locks are used in homes. Those safes and locks also must have strong safety standards to prevent unauthorized people, especially children, from gaining access to firearms. This bill will save lives and I鈥檓 proud to introduce it with my colleague Rep. Jayapal. I thank her for joining me in this effort to keep our families and communities safe.鈥

Majority of gun owners don鈥檛 safely store firearms in Washington

argues that studies have shown that a 10 percent increase in households with guns equates to a 25 percent increase in suicides by firearms. Also, in 2016, the Centers for Disease Control reported that 60 percent of all firearm deaths were from suicides; in 2017, 43 percent of all youth suicides involved guns.

Seattle passed a safe gun storage law in 2018. When it was proposed, city officials cited similar issues with gun storage — that 150,000 adults in King County were estimated to store their guns unlocked. Also, about 250 guns were reported as stolen in 2017.

Seattle’s storage law states that firearms should be stored in a locked container and rendered unusable by any person other than the authorized user. It is a civil infraction if a minor or unauthorized person accesses a gun. Fines are imposed between $500 and $1,000 on the owner. If someone commits a crime with the owner’s gun, fines go up to $10,000 and the owner will be considered negligent.

MyNorthwest News

Bitcoin all-time high crypto...

Jason Sutich

Bitcoin surges to new all-time high, powering crypto bull run

Bitcoin hits record highs, driving a robust crypto bull market. Explore the implications for investors and the digital currency landscape.

1 day ago

13-year-old boy missing...

Julia Dallas and MyNorthwest.com News Staff

Missing 13-year-old boy found safe and unharmed

Bellevue Police are searching for a 13-year-old boy missing from the mall.

1 day ago

Dash Point State Park...

MyNorthwest Staff

More details released after severed toe found in box at Dash Point State Park

A shocking find at Dash Point State Park on Father's Day leaves families in disbelief.

2 days ago

Mason County wildfires...

Heather Bosch

Evacuated residents allowed to return home near Mason County wildfire

Firefighters urge the public to maintain distance during Mason County wildfires for safety and effective emergency response.

2 days ago

coast guard rescues man near olympia...

Aaron Granillo

Coast Guard helicopter rescues man from swampland near Olympia

A U.S. Coast Guard crew successfully saved a man trapped in a marsh near Olympia.

2 days ago

Lewis County non-sanctuary...

Jason Sutich

Lewis County declares itself a ‘non-sanctuary’ county after unanimous vote

Lewis County commissioners declare the region a non-sanctuary city following a unanimous vote at the courthouse in Chehalis.

2 days ago

Seattle politician aims to take safe gun storage law national