The Los Angeles City Council took another step Tuesday toward tightening local gun restrictions by advancing an ordinance that would require handguns to be kept in a locked container or disabled with a trigger lock at home.
The ordinance makes it a misdemeanor to keep an unsecured handgun in a home and was modeled after a similar rule in San Francisco.
The police union had sought an exemption for active and retired peace officers, arguing that quick access was necessary for protection. It cited recent examples of police being targeted in attacks, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The council did not include a specific exemption for officers, but unanimously approved new language saying the rule would not apply to anyone over the age of 18 who keeps the weapon on their person or close enough at hand that they can quickly retrieve it.
“I want the members of the public to know that the language that we’re voting on today has no exceptions for law enforcement officers, no exceptions for anyone,” said Councilman Paul Krekorian.
Last week the council voted to ban high-capacity gun magazines. That rule would carry an exemption for peace officers who hold a valid, concealed carry weapons permit.