Have you heard of SB53? It’s not a new COVID variant, but a California Senate bill that, as of Jan. 1, will require gunlocks for unattended firearms, and also secure, locking gun safes for them.
Brea Police Lt. Chris Haddad explained that enforcement of the law will likely occur through incidental discovery. Such as when the police are conducting a search warrant for an unrelated matter and encounter an unsecured firearm. Then the law could apply.
If you are a responsible gun owner, you likely have locks for your firearms and keep them in a locked safe. Good for you. But a nightstand closet or a kitchen drawer, those are the places curious kids look and often fatal accidents happen. They don’t have to.
The Brea Police Department is working with OC Board of Supervisors Chair and Fourth District Supervisor Doug Chaffee in educating all of us in gun safety and the use of gun locks.
Chaffee and Haddad made a YouTube video explaining the new law, and Haddad demonstrates the steps to take to ensure there is no ammunition in a gun, rifle or other firearm, and how easy it is to secure a gunlock. Even I could do it.
Haddad said secure gun safes are available through big-box stores and other retailers. I recently got an ad for secure gun safes from my home security company. So they are easy to find.
“Beyond meeting storage requirements,” said Haddad, “many safes carry a fire rating, which offers added protection in fire-prone California.”
He added that most new firearms now come with a gunlock.
For those with guns currently without locks, you can get them for free online through Supervisor Chaffee’s office at d4.ocgov.com/freegunlocks.
According to Junelle Dillard, Chaffee’s policy advisor and field rep, when someone requests a gun lock through the website they must agree to watch the gun lock safety video.
“As of Sept. 10, we have received over 260 valid individual requests from Orange County residents,” said Dillard.
She added that the primary way of getting the free gunlocks is through the website, but they have begun distributing them at community events. But why wait? Watch the video, learn exactly how to secure your firearms and lock them and then order the free locks from the website. Seems easy enough.
One of Supervisor Chaffee’s primary missions is for gun safety, said Dillard. He has initiated two anonymous gun buyback events with 757 firearms, including 53 rapid assault weapons, now off the streets. Whew.
At the gun buybacks, residents who turn in unwanted firearms receive gift cards from vendors who do not sell firearms. In addition, they can also pick up gunlocks for any other firearms in their home and keep them safe from children, guests or anyone else who might misuse a gun.
Dillard noted that about 1 in 3 participants at the gun buybacks ask for gunlocks to secure their guns at home. She added that the next countywide gun buyback is Nov. 8 at the Garden Grove Community Center.
Maybe you have grandpa’s old hunting rifles or shotguns tucked away in the attic or up in the garage. Turn them in at the gun buyback and get rewarded with a gift card.
Terri Daxon is a freelance writer and the owner of Daxon Marketing Communications. She gives her perspective on Brea issues twice a month. Contact her at daxoncomm@gmail.com.