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San Jose approves first law in U.S. requiring gun owners to have insurance

San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo stands at a lectern.
San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo speaks during a news conference in May 2021 after nine people died in a shooting in his city.
(Associated Press)
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The city of San Jose voted Tuesday night to require gun owners to carry liability insurance in what’s believed to be the first measure of its kind in the United States.

The San Jose City Council overwhelmingly approved the measure despite opposition from some gun owners who said it would violate their 2nd Amendment rights.

San Jose will soon require gun owners to purchase liability insurance and to pay annual fees to fund violence-reduction initiatives.

Jan. 19, 2022

The council also voted to require thousands of gun owners in the city to pay a small fee, which would be used for firearm safety education and services such as domestic violence prevention and mental health services.

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The proposal seeks to reduce gun violence in the San Francisco Bay Area city.

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