SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) — A San Francisco lawmaker is pushing for gun control reforms that would require the videotaping of all gun and ammunition sales.

Supervisor Mark Farrell has asked the City Attorney to start drafting legislation that would tighten San Francisco’s already strict laws pertaining to the sale and possession of firearms.

“Even though San Francisco has some of the toughest gun control laws on the books in the country – there is more we can do to protect the public,” said Farrell.

Additionally, the proposed gun control package would require videotaping of all places where firearms or ammunition are stored, handled, sold, transferred, or carried. That could include locations as small as a safe, or as large as a parking lot. Anyone authorized to sell ammunition would be required to keep records for up to five years, and transmit the sales data to the SFPD weekly.



“Easy access to guns and ammunition continue to contribute to senseless violent crime here in San Francisco and across the country,” said Supervisor Mark Farrell.

According to data from the San Francisco Police Department, there were 463 firearms arrests in 2014, up from 413 the previous year, representing a 12 percent increase. There was also an 11.76 percent decrease in the number of homicides by firearm, down from 34 to 30.

The total number of fatal and non-fatal shooting victims remained relatively stagnant, however. In 2013 there were 195 shooting victims, and in 2014 there were 194, representing a 0.5 percent decrease.

Chicago passed a similar law in 2014, requiring videotaping of gun and ammunition purchases.

Supervisor Farrell’s proposed gun legislation is expected to be introduced at the Board of Supervisors meeting in September when the Board returns from its recess.