Residents Required To Lock Guns Under New Healdsburg Ordinance

HEALDSBURG, CA — The Healdsburg City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance Monday requiring the safe storage of firearms in Healdsburg, joining at least 20 other California cities with similar laws in place.

The new local law calls for all firearms within Healdsburg city limits to be stored in a locked container or secured with a locking device. Further, if a gun goes missing in Healdsburg, the new law requires the Healdsburg resident who owns the gun — or the person who had it in their possession in the city of Healdsburg— to report it missing to the Healdsburg Police Department within 48 hours of the time they suspected or knew it was missing.

"Requiring safe firearm storage is intended to decrease the risk of harm to children and the entire community from unauthorized access to firearms," said Healdsburg police Chief Matt Jenkins. "This ordinance fills an important gap in existing law and aims to reduce accidental gun shootings, gun-related homicides and suicides, and the theft of unsecured firearms."

The Healdsburg Police Department recently partnered with Project ChildSafe to provide free gun locks to the community. Healdsburg residents can pick up a free lock from the lobby of the Healdsburg Police Department at 238 Center St.

The city plans to pair the ordinance with community outreach and education efforts to ensure residents are aware of the new regulations as well as best practices for preventing gun-related tragedies.

Safe storage ordinances are in effect in the following California cities: Antioch, Alameda, Belvedere, Berkeley, Dublin, Los Angeles, Moraga, Morgan Hill, Napa, Oakland, Orinda, Palm Springs, Petaluma, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Cruz, Saratoga, South San Francisco, St. Helena, Sunnyvale, Tiburon and Walnut Creek.

The Petaluma ordinance was adopted in February.

To learn more about the new ordinance, please visit: healdsbug.gov