Today the Seattle Police Department issued its proposed interpretive rules for enforcement of the city’s recently passed ordinance requiring that firearms not in use be stored in a locked container.
The ordinance requires the Chief of Police to provide a definition for a “locked container.” Today’s proposed rules do specifically that, defining it as:
A safe, gun safe, gun case, gun cabinet, or lock box that is
(a) designed to fully contain firearms and prevent removal of, and access to, the enclosed firearm;
(b) Is capable of repeated use;
(c) May be opened only by a numerical combination consisting of the entry of at least three variables entered in a specific sequence on a keypad, dial or tumbler device; key, magnetic key, or electronic key; or by biometric identification; and
(d) Be constructed with such quality of workmanship and material that it may not be easily pried open, removed, or otherwise defeated by the use of common tools.
As previously reported, the NRA and the Second Amendment Foundation have filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the ordinance. The City of Seattle has filed a motion to dismiss the case.
Members of the public may submit comments on the proposed rule until October 15th.