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.

 

READ MORE