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Proposed gun safety legislation would require lockboxes for home storage

A Seattle City Council committee began its first briefing on new gun safety legislation Wednesday.

The legislation was proposed by Mayor Jenny Durkan earlier this year.

One proposed ordinance would require gun owners to use lockboxes to store their guns at home. It would not apply to vehicles.

Seattle is also considering doubling the maximum fine for not reporting a lost or stolen gun to $1,000.

Several people spoke in support of the proposals, including one woman whose brother was murdered.

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"Safe storage is basic. It seems common sense. We don't know why it hasn't been done all over the nation and Seattle could be among the first to do this," said Catherine Person with the Everytown Survivor Network.

Seattle says it would use fines to enforce the measures, which would also use money from the city's gun and ammunition tax to study gun violence at Harborview Medical Center.

The city council could vote on the proposals in early July.