A St. Louis judge has struck down the city’s gun control ordinance that required firearms left in vehicles to be stored securely. Judge Joseph P. Whyte ruled that the ordinance violates state law, which prohibits local regulations on gun ownership and possession, thus leaving the city unable to enforce this specific measure aimed at preventing gun thefts.
The decision stems from a lawsuit initiated by a local resident whose gun was stolen from his car. Critics of the ruling argue it undermines efforts to combat gun trafficking, while city attorneys maintain that municipalities should have the authority to enact localized regulations. The judge’s ruling also keeps in place the requirement that gun thefts be reported within 48 hours, although it does not directly address concerns about individuals being penalized for reporting thefts resulting from unsecured firearms.
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