New Seattle law requires gun owners to lock up guns

SEATTLE (AP) – The Seattle City Council has voted unanimously to pass legislation proposed by Mayor Jenny Durkan to require gun owners to lock up their firearms.

The Seattle Times reports starting 180 days after Durkan signs the legislation passed Monday, it will be a civil infraction to store a gun without the firearm being secured in a locked container.

Also under the legislation, it will be a civil infraction when an owner knows or should know that a minor, “at-risk person” or unauthorized user is likely to access a gun and such a person actually does access the weapon.

The legislation allows fines up to $500 when a gun isn’t locked up, up to $1,000 when a prohibited person accesses a firearm and up to $10,000 when a prohibited person uses the weapon to hurt someone or commit a crime.

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Information from: The Seattle Times, http://www.seattletimes.com