Bloomberg news reports, “NRA-Branded Insurance Program Is Unlawful, New York Regulators Say“:
“A National Rifle Association-branded insurance program unlawfully provided liability coverage to gun owners in the event they were charged with a crime involving their firearms, according to New York state regulators … The group advertises Carry Guard as the nation’s “most complete self-defense membership program” on its website, referring to Lockton’s plan as “comprehensive personal firearms liability insurance.” Regulators said the insurance unlawfully offered protection for certain acts of intentional wrongdoing and improperly provided coverage for acts of self defense. Gun control advocates have criticized the program, referring to it as “murder insurance.” …”
I knew this was coming because for years gun control advocates have pushed bills requiring gun owners have liability insurance (currently A-349, A-2260 and S-2857A) and the response has always been it isn’t legal.
While the antis are crowing about this decision now, the NYS Department of Financial Services just nuked one of their key agenda items.
Will this impact the other companies that sell this type of insurance in NY?
I don’t believe there are other insurance programs like this because you cannot insure against a policy holder committing illegal acts.
Is it really insuring against the policy holder committing illegal acts?
I view it as insuring against the authorities ALLEGING that an act is illegal.
After all, it’s not illegal until a court says so – innocent until proven guilty and all that.
Not a lawyer, but hard to believe it is illegal to be insured for a legal defense if accused. Obviously,insurance cannot preclude a jail sentence upon conviction. Only thing might apply is insurance cannot pay a fine (criminal liability). I must also believe you can be insured for civil liability (which might be way bigger than a penal fine).
First they want required insurance, then when NRA offers it, Ohh hey, you can’t do that…… They just want to get us any way possible / how can they fuck us yet another way…. LOL.
You cannot buy insurance to cover a policy holder’s potential illegal actions. That is the problem.