On Wednesday evening, Palm Springs City Council passed gun control legislation, which would amend the desert city’s firearms policy. The measure passed on a 3-2 vote. In 30 days the following will become the law:

• Gun owners have 48 hours to report a missing firearm to police or when the owner “reasonably should have known” they were missing.
• If guns or ammo is to be left unattended in a vehicle, it must be kept in a truck or locked container.
• People will have to store their firearms in a locked container at home. Their other option is to place a trigger lock on their guns.

Anyone found violating the city law could face a $1,000 fine per violation.

One councilwoman, Ginny Foat, a strong supporter of gun control, voted against the measure. According to Foat, there’s no way to enforce the new law. She also believes the legislation would allow for government intrusion into people’s private lives and homes.

Councilman J.R. Roberts has a different opinion.

“Every ordinance that we pass isn’t necessarily perfect,” he told the Desert Sun. “Say if we find that anything in this ordinance doesn’t work or is misguided, we can go back and fix it.”

Joy Brown Meredith, business owner and president of the Main Street Palm Springs Association, asked the council not to pass the law and make her family feel less safe in their own home. She said she would feel horrible if she ever shot someone.

“But if I had to shoot someone to save one of my kids, you’d better believe I’d shoot them dead,” she said to applause from the crowd.

In July, the NRA warned the Palm Springs City Council not to pursue this legislation.

“We ask the City Council to reconsider its support for the proposal because it is preempted by state law, duplicative of recently enacted state legislation, raises serious constitutional concerns under the Second Amendment, Fifth Amendment, and Equal Protection Clause under the United States Constitution, and will expose the city to costly and time consuming litigation, all while failing to promote public safety,” a letter from the NRA’s attorneys to the city read. 

The NRA has sent out letters to its members, providing them with advice for how to comply with these laws. The lobbying organization also reminded members to stay vigilant against unlawful search and seizures.