*In the U.S. 100 people die from gun violence every day and, on average, there are about 13,000 homicides annually.
The Board of Supervisors of the San Mateo County approved the first reading of an ordinance to regulate the sale of firearms in the unincorporated areas of the county.
In the U.S., 100 people die from gun violence every day and, on average, there are about 13,000 homicides annually.
The new ordinance will require firearms dealers to acquire a locally issued license, maintain liability insurance, implement basic store security measures, and impose restrictions on operations in or near residential neighborhoods or places of worship, schools, daycare centers or other spaces frequented by children.
"It will provide greater public safety as it will place greater emphasis on scrutiny over firearm sales in unincorporated San Mateo County; and it will serve as a model for similar improvements to be made in all local communities," said Supervisor Dave Pine, sponsor of the ordinance.
Under current law, firearms dealers are licensed by the state of California with minimal requirements.
"As a former sheriff, I have seen firsthand the damage guns can cause when they are in the wrong hands. This new ordinance is a significant step in the county's progress to close the gaps in current local law," said Supervisor Don Horsley, who also created the initiative.
Who also served as San Mateo County sheriff for 14 years beginning in 1993, he added that it is important that the link between "firearms manufacturers, dealers and residents be subject to management."
The proposed ordinance to regulate gun sales joins the annual adoption of a proclamation by the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors declaring the first Friday in June as National Gun Violence Awareness Day, also known as "Wear Orange Day".
The memorial was inspired by friends of Hadiya Pendleton, who was tragically shot and killed in Chicago at the age of 15 in 2013.
Orange is the color his friends wore in his honor, and it has defined the gun violence prevention movement ever since.
"Unscrupulous gun and ammunition dealers have no place in our communities. Among other things, this legislation will strengthen local oversight of dealers and enhance the County's efforts to prevent gun trafficking," said Allison Anderman, senior advisor to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
He said the ordinance will also limit merchants to appropriate areas of the county that are difficult for unsupervised children and teens to access.
In recent years, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors has adopted several measures regarding gun safety, including an ordinance regulating the safe storage of guns in the home and their repurchase.
Firearms are the second leading cause of death among American children and teens, and increase the suicide rate by 300 percent, the county said in a statement.
Just last month, the Bay Area was reminded of the deadly potential of gun violence with the murder of nine Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) workers in a tragic mass shooting.
"By proclaiming June 4 as Gun Violence Awareness Day and wearing orange, San Mateo County joins other communities across the country in raising our collective voice," Pine said.
"But we must also take meaningful action; by enacting this strict ordinance on firearms dealers, San Mateo County is also demonstrating its commitment to safety," he said.
The ordinance to regulate the sale of firearms requires a second reading by the Board and, if adopted, will take effect 30 days later.
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