Gun Rights Group Sues California City Over Liability Law

A gun rights group and a gun owner have filed a lawsuit against a California city for a newly passed ordinance requiring citizens to obtain firearm liability insurance and pay an annual fee.

The National Association for Gun Rights and gun owner Mark Sikes sued San Jose in federal court Tuesday after City Council members voted to approve the ordinance believed to be the first measure of its kind in the United States. Sikes is from San Jose.

"The law is unconstitutional," Harmeet Dhillon, an attorney representing the plaintiffs, said Wednesday. "The law compels people to purchase insurance that doesn't necessarily exist and that demonstrates that this law is not a good faith attempt to do anything other than ban or burden the lawful possession of guns."

The San Jose City Council overwhelmingly approved the measure despite opposition from gun owners who said it would violate their Second Amendment rights.

Dhillon said the law also infringes on the First Amendment by compelling gun owners to pay an annual fee to a not-yet-formed nonprofit that could promote a message they do not agree with.

"The ordinance even prohibits the city from directing how the non-profit would use the funds," the lawsuit read. "The one thing that is clear is that the organization will likely be dedicated to exclusively preaching the negative risks of gun ownership."

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo said having liability insurance would encourage people in the 55,000 households in San Jose who legally own at least one registered gun to have gun safes, install trigger locks and take gun safety classes.

The liability insurance would cover losses or damages resulting from any accidental use of the firearm, including death, injury or property damage, according to the ordinance. If a gun is stolen or lost, the owner of the firearm would be considered liable until the theft or loss is reported to authorities.

However, gun owners who do not have insurance will not lose their guns or face any criminal charges, the mayor said.