West Hollywood’s City Council unanimously introduced a groundbreaking ordinance on May 19, 2025, to bolster gun safety, reinforcing the city’s legacy as a trailblazer in combating firearm violence. The three-part measure, which requires gun owners to carry liability insurance, restricts firearm dealer locations, and bans guns in city spaces, reflects a bold local response to a national crisis, with 48,000 firearm-related deaths reported in the U.S. in 2022.
The ordinance, introduced for its first reading, mandates that all gun owners in West Hollywood obtain firearm liability insurance, mirroring a San Jose model upheld by federal courts. Effective six months after adoption, the insurance—costing $39 to $300 annually and often covered by homeowners or renters policies—addresses losses from unintentional shootings, which account for over a third of gun injuries nationwide. Owners must keep an attestation form with their firearm, enforceable via administrative citations ($250–$1,000 penalties).
Additionally, the ordinance prohibits firearm dealers within 1,000 feet of alcohol-serving establishments, such as bars or liquor stores, adding to existing zoning rules that separate dealers from other gun shops, schools, daycare centers, and parks. City Attorney Lauren Langer highlighted data linking heavy alcohol use to gun homicides and suicides, noting that 30% of gun homicide victims drank heavily before their deaths. The Planning Commission endorsed this change, despite no current firearm dealers operating in the city’s 1.9-square-mile boundaries.
The measure also bans firearms in city-owned buildings, parks, and associated parking lots, with exceptions for law enforcement and authorized security. Vice Mayor John Heilman called the restrictions “common-sense,” arguing they protect city employees and residents in spaces meant for safety. “Our parks should be places where people go to feel safe,” he said.
West Hollywood’s history of gun control—banning assault rifles in 1994 and “Saturday Night Specials” in 1995—frames this ordinance as a continuation of progressive policy. Mayor Chelsea Lee Byers, born in Monterey Park, where a 2023 shooting killed 10, emphasized personal stakes: “I would like West Hollywood to not have to go through any of that.” Councilmember John M. Erickson, who proposed the measure two years ago, praised colleagues for “standing up against gun violence” despite legal challenges, citing Supreme Court rulings (Heller, Bruen) that affirm local authority to regulate “sensitive places.”
The staff with 2024 Sheriff’s data showed 13 assaults and 33 armed robberies involving guns in West Hollywood. Los Angeles County reported 74% of homicides from 2018–2022 involved firearms. While no public comments were recorded, the council’s consensus reflects community values. Councilmember Lauren Meister clarified that firearm sales require a Conditional Use Permit in three commercial zones, not an outright ban, ensuring regulatory precision.
The ordinance, exempt from CEQA, awaits a second reading. If passed, it will position West Hollywood as a leader in gun safety, balancing Second Amendment rights with public welfare, as Director of Community Safety Danny Rivas and Assistant Director Jennifer Alkire noted in their support.
Law abiding citizens aren’t the problem. Bad people looking to do bad things are the problem and they don’t follow the law. These measures will do nothing to stop gun violence.
2/3 of all “muh firearms deaths” are suicides. Maybe address that, first. 500 are accidents, almost every year. The overwhelming majority of non-accident, non-suicide homicides involving firearms are gang crime. They don’t carry insurance, never mind go through the extortive CCW permit process. You godless freaks make it even more difficult for me to protect my family on the street and in my own home or business with your pro-criminal agenda.
Yup.
I’m so glad that West Hollywood passed this ordinance because now criminals will think twice before robbing and mugging people in sensitive areas. 🙄
Right?