Bill Would Require Law Enforcement to Lock Up Guns They Leave in Vehicles

Two high-profile shootings in the Bay Area last year have led to proposed legislation in Sacramento.

The shooting deaths of Kathryn Steinle along San Francisco’s Pier 14 in July and muralist Antonio Ramos in Oakland in September were both allegedly committed with guns stolen from the cars of law enforcement officers.

Now, San Mateo state Sen. Jerry Hill has introduced a bill that would require officers to lock up and stow any handguns they leave in their cars. Hill says civilians already have to lock up their guns.

“There’s no reason that a police officer, off duty, or a federal officer, off duty, shouldn’t fall under the same requirements,” Hill says. “Because it’s common sense, it’s certainly a safety issue and, in what we’ve seen, it’s a matter of life and death.”

Hill says law enforcement agencies don’t appear to be opposed to his measure, adding that several tell him they already have policies requiring officers to lock up their guns.

Hill's bill, SB869, would require officers to lock their handguns in the trunk or place them in a locked container that is out of plain sight in the car. Officers who didn't follow the rule could be fined up to $1,000.