(UnitedVoice.com) – California has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Meanwhile, it’s still the state with the most mass shootings, according to Statista. A new bill introduced by a Democrat would require insurance companies to ask potential customers about their guns.
On February 16, Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D) introduced AB 3067. The legislation would make California the first state to link insurance and gun ownership. The bill would require insurers to include questions about the storage and presence of guns on applications for those seeking renters’ and homeowners’ insurance. It wouldn’t just extend to the homes, though. The companies would also be required to ask whether there are any firearms in vehicles or storage structures, like sheds, on the property.
The law would specifically mandate that insurers ask whether guns would be kept on the property and how many. It would also inquire whether the firearms are stored in locked containers while they are not in use.
Insurance companies would have to report the information they obtain to the Legislature and the Department of Insurance. However, the bill states that the insurer would not report identifying information, including names, telephone numbers, or addresses.
AB 3067 is concerning because it seeks out information from law-abiding gun owners who are practicing their Second Amendment rights constitutionally guaranteed to them. Additionally, it could lead to a situation where insurance companies charge gun owners higher premiums because they have legal firearms on their property. The legislation does not prohibit insurers from increasing premiums for gun owners.
Chuck Michel, the president of the California Rifle and Pistol Association, told The Post Millennial that the legislation is the result of “progressive politicians” who are refusing to “accept the Supreme Court’s mandate” expanding gun rights in 2022. He accused them of “trying every creative ploy they can imagine to get around it.”
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