California: San Jose Passes Tax & Insurance Requirement for Gun Owners

Yesterday, the San Jose City Council voted 10-1 to adopt a requirement for gun owners to purchase liability insurance, and 8-3 to adopt a tax on gun owners, despite overwhelming citizen opposition. Of the comments submitted in relation to this ordinance, just five were in favor while 1,174 were against. The proposed ordinance now advances to final reading at the City Council’s meeting next month, where they will hold another vote. It has not been posted to the agenda at this time.

The meeting will be held remotely by video conference. For information on participating in the meeting, submitting eComments, or to view the agenda, you may click here. Please email a public comment to city.clerk@sanjoseca.gov, submit an eComment, and click the button below to contact City Council members and ask them to OPPOSE File 22-045.

File 22-045, the so-called “Gun Harm Reduction Ordinance,” requires gun owners to pay an annual fee and have liability insurance coverage for firearm-related “death, injury, or property damage.” Gun owners are required to fill out and sign a city-provided form attesting to compliance, and also to sign new forms each time their insurance information changes. They are required to keep this form, along with proof of payment for the annual tax, with their firearms wherever they are being stored or transported. Failure to comply will result in firearms being impounded.

This is an attempt to punish law-abiding gun owners for owning a lawful product, by making them pay for the activities of criminals. Taxing lawful ownership and requiring insurance will do nothing to reduce gun violence, which is often committed by repeat criminals who will not be paying the fees or obtaining insurance. It simply increases the cost for law-abiding citizens to exercise a constitutional right. Violent criminals in illegal possession of firearms cannot be required to comply with these measures, as the ordinance’s attestation requirements violate their right against self-incrimination.

Please spread the word to fellow gun owners and other Second Amendment supporters.