Securely storing firearms when not in use is an essential element of responsible gun ownership and the #1 way to help prevent firearm accidents, theft, and misuse. To this effect, the Orinda City Council voted unanimously on October 16, 2018 to approve a safe storage ordinance requiring that “except when carried on his or her person, or otherwise in his or her immediate control and possession, no person shall keep a firearm… in any residence in Orinda owned or controlled by that person unless the firearm is stored in a locked container… or the firearm is disabled with a safety device listed on the California Department of Justice’s roster of firearm safety devices…” The ordinance will go into effect on November 15, 2018.
The legislation was developed in collaboration with input from stakeholders including gun safety advocates, community members, public health experts, and others.
GUN SAFETY
The Orinda Police Department continuously works with the community to promote and practice safe gun ownership and firearm safety at home. The Orinda Police offers programs to assist the community in that endeavor.
At any time, at an Orinda resident’s request, the Orinda Police can conduct a safety audit to look at the various firearm storage/locking methods used by that resident. If you would like a police officer to examine your current firearm storage and/or provide recommendations for safe gun storage, please call the Orinda Police Department at (925) 254-6820.
The Orinda Police Department offers free trigger locks/cables that can stop a gun from operating while under lock and key to providing another level of safety. Anyone can drop into the police station and pick up a Project Childsafe Gun Lock. Trigger locks are one way of preventing someone from purposely or accidentally using the firearm that may cause injury. Gun boxes/safes provide an extra level of protection beyond trigger locks because guns are “out of sight,” and these devices prevent gun thefts from occurring during residential burglaries.
Additional information about firearms safety from the California Department of Justice may be found HERE or the Orinda Police Department’s webpage HERE.
DISPOSAL OF UNWANTED FIREARMS
The Orinda Police Department also can receive and take possession of any firearms and ammunition homeowners feel are no longer needed or may pose a risk at no cost. Simply bring the unloaded firearms to the Orinda Police Department at any time located at 22 Orinda Way.
SCHOOL GUN SAFETY EDUCATION
Miramonte High School Parent Education hosted an event on October 22, 2018 where campus/gun safety was discussed, along with Orinda’s new safe storage ordinance. Speakers were AUHSD Superintendent Dr. John Nickerson, Miramonte Associate Principal Nick Carpenter, OUSD Superintendent Dr. Carolyn Seaton, Orinda Mayor Amy Worth, and Orinda Police Chief Mark Nagel. Please view the video HERE.
Sounds good. Any provisions made for guns lost, dischaged, taken while in police custody?
As a life long gun owner I find this to be a waste of time and resources. Well intended I am sure, but it feels like the nanny state in action. We rely on our neighbors to report a “bad” gun owner to OPD for this to work?? Owning a gun is a serious responsibility and those that do so legally understand that and act with safety foremost in mind. It’s like having a baby and learning how to secure a car seat or the proper way to hold your baby, the vast majority of us don’t enter into parenthood and decide to just wing it. Same is true for the vast majority of gun owners, in fact its more stringent…as you are required to apply for a permit, have a background check and pass safety training before owning a gun. This new law may make people feel warm inside as if we’ve made big strides in preventing some future tragedy but I would bet the number of inspections that occur are tiny and it doesn’t achieve much of anything in Orinda over the long term. I have a family member who is part of a local law enforcement agency and she agrees.
Did they ever find that MP5??? https://news24-680.com/2017/01/24/sheriffs-investigators-fbi-working-with-orinda-pd-to-recover-weapon-stolen-from-agents-car/
I’m all for making sure none of the shooting irons out there can shoot at me but the problem I see is that a lot of people out there are armed and we’re not talking about your law abiding home owner.
I’m not sure how I feel about this. On one hand I think it is well meaning legislation by a local civic body. On the other hand I can’t help but think they/we have more pressing needs to concern ourselves with. For some reason it appears smaller city governments feel the need to address larger social issues – human trafficking, environmental issues they have no control over. It looks good on the surface but I am left to wonder what actual effect our leaders are having on the issues before us?