Oakland bills would require stricter security for guns in cars

Jeanna Penn of Oakland, who is also a muralist, joined family, friends and supporters for a candlelight vigil, on Wed. September 30, 2015, to remember artist Antonio Ramos who was shot and killed yesterday while working on a mural on the 3500 block of West St. in Oakland, Calif. less Jeanna Penn of Oakland, who is also a muralist, joined family, friends and supporters for a candlelight vigil, on Wed. September 30, 2015, to remember artist Antonio Ramos who was shot and killed yesterday ... more Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Oakland bills would require stricter security for guns in cars 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Two Oakland officials want to make it a crime for residents to leave guns or ammunition in their cars without locking them up.

Legislation introduced Thursday by City Councilwoman Rebecca Kaplan and City Attorney Barbara J. Parker would also require Oakland law enforcement officers to lock up city-issued guns in their personal cars, even when they are outside Oakland city limits.

The proposed legislation follows a wave of high-profile crimes in the Bay Area involving guns stolen from cars, including slayings of a muralist in Oakland, a backpacker in Golden Gate Park, a hiker in Marin County and a woman walking on a San Francisco pier.

"We must make it much harder for guns to get into the hands of those who use them to cause harm,” Kaplan said in a statement. “Leaving guns unsecured in unattended vehicles creates a serious danger and risk to the public and should not be allowed.”

“Unfortunately the U.S. Congress is suffering from some kind of political psychosis when it comes to guns, refusing to pass common sense reforms such as universal background checks and licensing for all gun purchases,” Parker said in a statement. “In this legal context, we in Oakland have a moral imperative to do everything humanly possible to address this crisis with our own legislation.”

Parker and Kaplan cited Oakland Police Department statistics showing approximately 300 guns were stolen during auto burglaries in Oakland between August 2004 and November 2015.

Under the legislation, Oakland residents who leave guns unsecured could face six months in jail and a $1,000 fine, as well as potential revocation of their gun permits. Oakland law enforcement officers who violated the law could face discipline from their departments.

The Oakland City Council’s Public Safety Committee will consider the ordinance on Dec. 15.

In San Francisco, Supervisor David Campos introduced similar legislation earlier this month.

Emily Green is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: egreen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @emilytgreen