Washington, D.C. already has some of the strictest gun-control laws in the country, but the city council is considering a bill that would require prospective gun owners to purchase a $250,000 liability insurance policy.<\/p>\n
The proposed bill, B20-170, would mandate insurance coverage for
\nnegligent and intentional acts in which a gun is used in cases
\nother than self-defense. Even those who already own gun licenses
\nwould be required to purchase the liability insurance within 30
\ndays of the effective date of the bill.<\/p>\n
The bill states that its purpose is to compensate victims of gun
\nviolence through the money raised from the licensing mandate, but
\ncritics have scrutinized the measure for possibly inflicting heavy
\ncosts upon gun owners.<\/p>\n
It is not yet clear how much a $250,000 liability insurance
\npolicy would cost, but if it is significant, it could serve as a
\nbarrier against purchasing firearms. Democratic Councilmember Mary
\nCheh, who introduced the bill, told WTTF-TV that she is willing to
\nnegotiate with critics about the cost.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t mean it to be a centrifuge as a ban,\u201d<\/i> she said.
\n\u201cI want it to really be insurance.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
She also added that guns \u201care instrumentalities that, if
\nmishandled or allow others access or mishandling, can cause great
\nharm,\u201d<\/i> thereby emphasizing the need for insurance to compensate
\nvictims.<\/p>\n
But there is also a gap in the proposed bill: if crimes are
\ncommitted using an illegal weapon, victims would not receive any
\nsort of compensation, since those who buy guns illegally would not
\nhave mandated insurance.<\/p>\n
The council committee heard testimonies on the need for such Three gun owners and two insurance-industry representatives A number of other states are considering similar measures to the Meanwhile, the state of Maryland has this week entered the ranks
\ninsurance on Thursday<\/span>, but D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray\u2019s
\nadministration does not currently support the bill. In a written
\ntestimony to the DC Council, the deputy insurance commissioner
\nwrote that the mayor \u201cis not convinced that there is currently a
\npersuasive argument to support the need for insurance for firearms
\nin the home.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n
\ntestified against the bill during the10 a.m.<\/span>hearing,
\nwhile the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence testified in favor
\nof the proposal, the Associated Press reports.<\/p>\n
\nbill proposed by Cheh, but no such law has yet been passed in the
\nUS.<\/p>\n
\nof states with the most restrictive gun laws. Gov. Martin O\u2019Malley
\non Thursday signed a bill that will ban 45 assault rifles and
\nrestrict ammunition magazines to 10 rounds. The legislation also
\nrequires Americans who buy handguns to be fingerprinted.<\/p>\n