New York bill would require gun owners to have $1 million liability insurance

A bill was introduced in the State Assembly by Felix Ortiz (D-Brooklyn) that would require citizens of New York to acquire liability insurance as a condition to gun ownership.
Bill S2353 will require all gun owners in NY to obtain and “continuously maintain” insurance coverage of at least $1 million, or they will suffer “immediate revocation of such owner’s registration, license and any other privilege to own” a firearm.

photo Chelsea Gomez (Oakes) via Flickr

If the citizen fails to obtain the insurance, then by simply owning the firearm, they will be in violation of the law.

This bill was introduced by Assemblyman Ortiz as an amendment to the current NY State Insurance Law.

Specifically, the bill’s provisions include:

“Any person in this state who shall own a firearm shall, prior to such ownership, obtain and continuously maintain a policy of liability insurance in an amount not less than one million dollars specifically covering any damages resulting from any negligent or willful acts involving the use of such firearm while it is owned by such person”

Supporters claim victims of gun violence should be compensated for their physical and mental suffering, long-term disabilities, loss of relationships and other traumas. Liability insurance, similar to medical malpractice insurance, should be available to protect gun owners, dealers and manufacturers and to provide for victims of gun violence.

Such measures do not infringe on Second Amendment rights, but they do focus on the serious responsibility that goes with gun ownership and encourage gun owners to maintain control of their weapons at all times.

Read the text of the bill here