Amar Kaleka is a candidate for Congress from Wisconsin running for the seat now occupied by Paul Ryan. He is the son of one of the persons killed by a Neo Nazi white extremist at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek Wisconsin on August 5, 2012. He has gun safety as a key issue in his platform. Of particular interest to this blog is the third point on the “American Peace Plan for Gun Responsibility.”
3. Mandatory accidental discharge insurance on all gun sales and ammo. When there is an accidental discharge and someone is harmed or victimized by an irresponsible gun owner, the burden of fiscal responsibility is left in limbo. Private insurance carriers have the ability to determine the gun buyer’s biography, health, and criminal record. Insurance companies and the market would decide reasonable premiums based on the type of gun purchased, carrying in public, or what type of training or the expertise of the gun owner. The Federal government does not have this ability.
The announcement was made on August 30, 2014 in Santa Monica, CA with Richard Martinez, father of 2014 Santa Barbara shooting victim Christopher Michaels-Martinez; and Patricia Maisch, survivor of the 2011 Tucson, Arizona shooting. It was picked up by Insurance News Net.
Limiting the mandate to accidental discharge makes the coverage much more narrow than the insurance advocated by this blog, but it is in line with many plans introduced in several states. The argument that any insurance will cause insurers to take an interest in gun owners level of responsibility is probably a reasonable start. The actual number of cases that insurers would have to pay would be small enough that it would end up being a very affordable coverage and is probably already covered by most homeowners insurance.
The fact that mandatory (but not so easily voluntary) insurance can cover intentional and criminal acts is not recognized; but in light of the widespread disinformation spread by insurers, it can be handled more effectively in full legislative hearing process than in an election campaign.
The point that insurers can do evaluations that the Federal government cannot is a good one. The “Top Down” system advocated by this blog is based on that idea with a method of guaranteeing insurance for all guns without general governmental gun registration.
Gun Insurance Blog salutes Amar Kaleka for his courage and foresight in placing gun insurance in his platform in a clear and open manner.