Corinne S Kennedy

The Desert Sun

The Palm Springs City Council will take a final vote on a controversial firearms ordinance Wednesday, finalizing an issue that has divided the council and drawn passionate support and opposition from residents of Palm Springs and other valley cities.

At the previous meeting, the council voted 3-2 to advance the measure to a second reading, with a few changes to the ordinance language. Councilmembers Ginny Foat and Chris Mills cast the dissenting votes.

If passed Wednesday, the ordinance would add three new provisions to the city’s existing municipal code involving firearms:

Gun owners would be required to report lost or stolen firearms to the police within 48 hours of when the weapons are discovered missing or when the owner “reasonably should have known” they were missing;

At home, people would be required to store firearms in a locked container or disable their triggers when a gun is not in an owner’s immediate possession;

Firearms and ammunition cannot be left unattended in a vehicle unless they are in a trunk or locked container.

PREVIOUSLY: Palm Springs council votes 3-2 to advance firearms ordinance

It would take effect 30 days after being passed. Violators could be fined $1,000 per offense.

People who supported and opposed the ordinance attended the Sept. 7 meeting, some wearing matching t-shirts and holding signs, voicing their concerns or support to the council.

Fr. Andrew Green, from the Episcopal Church of St. Paul in the Desert, said he believed the ordinance was not overly intrusive and promoted the city as a place that was safe for families and children.

“I think it is an important thing that Palm Springs would be a community that could be a lead...could take the lead in providing for safe control of firearms in our community,” he said.

Palm Springs Republican Women President Nancy Carter said she and members of her organization were firm supporters of the Second Amendment and believed these measures infringed on them.

“I am very concerned about this as I see this happening all over the United States,” Carter said.

PREVIOUSLY: NRA tells Palm Springs—you might get sued

The ordinance appears on the consent agenda. However, a council member can make a motion to have it pulled for further debate or to cast a dissenting vote without voting against the rest of the consent agenda.

Corinne Kennedy covers the west valley for The Desert Sun. She can be reached at Corinne.Kennedy@DesertSun.com, on Twitter at @CorinneSKennedy or at 760-778-4625.