About the ordinance

On March 8, 2022, the City Council unanimously adopted the Safe Storage of Firearms ordinance.

The ordinance aims to reduce the risk of firearm-related injuries and deaths by requiring the safe storage of firearms in residences and vehicles. The City ordinance goes into effect on May 7, 2022.

What the Ordinance Means for local gun owners

The ordinance applies to all firearms, not just handguns. It requires firearms to be stored in a locked container or disabled with a trigger lock when stored in residences. Otherwise, gun owners must have the firearm in their close proximity and control.

For unattended vehicles, firearms must be stored in a locked container in the trunk of a vehicle or in a permanently affixed locked container for vehicles without trunks. The ordinance prohibits guns from being stored in an unattended vehicle overnight.

Violators of the ordinance may face a misdemeanor punishable by fine and/or imprisonment.

Background

Through the ordinance, the City of Mountain View intends to:

• Reduce the chance of minors accessing firearms and causing harm to themselves or others.
• Reduce suicides, the majority of which occur by use of firearms.
• Reduce firearm-related domestic violence injuries and deaths.
• Prevent theft of firearms in order to protect gun owners and the public as a whole from the subsequent illicit sale of stolen firearms, including their subsequent use in crimes.

Relevant Documents and Information

• Council report (3/8/22)
  
• Council report (2/22/22)
  
• News release (3/9/22)
  
• State of California Department of Justice's Roster of Approved Firearms Safety Devices

For more Information

For questions, please contact Lt. Wahed Magee at 650-903-6102 or wahed.magee@mountainview.gov.