Los Angeles gun ordinance calls for firearm storage in locked containers

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles City Council is considering a new gun ordinance that would require gun owners in L.A. to store their firearms in locked containers and apply the trigger locks when not using them.

Proponents say there is a loophole in state law that requires guns to come with safety locks, but there is no requirement to actually use the locks.

"Can the simple act of locking up guns save lives? Of course the answer is yes it can," said L.A. City Councilman Paul Koretz.

Proponents say the ordinance, which was proposed on Friday, would try to stop unlocked guns from falling into the hands of a child or somebody who might want to commit a crime.

The Council also declared Friday "Talk Day" in the City of Los Angeles to remind people about the importance of safely storing away firearms.

Hollye Dexter from Women Against Gun Violence said her brother was shot in the head at the age of 7 by a neighbor who was playing with his father's rifle.

"We had no idea that our neighbors kept a loaded gun in their home. It never occurred to us to ask but you can and I urge you to," Dexter said.

However, Sam Paredes from the Gun Owners of California says the ordinance would be against the law.

"The Supreme court has said in Heller versus Washington D.C. that the government might require you to have locks but that you are not required to use them in your own home. The government cannot force law abiding citizens to have inoperable firearms in their homes," Paredes said in a statement.

L.A. City Councilman Paul Krekorian said an estimated 68 percent of school shootings involve a gun brought from home. He said this ordinance would help stop that, and it doesn't take away any gun owners' rights.

"It helps to make gun owners more responsible, and it helps make people who come into contact with those gun owners safer by making those gun owners more responsible," Krekorian said.

The full City Council is expected to debate the proposed ordinance in December.