Legislature Passes Safe Storage Gun Control Bill

March 12th, 2019

Both houses of legislature passed another gun control bill which intends to keep operable firearms from being accessed by children. The bill would require anyone who owns or possesses a firearm and resides in a home that either, has children under 16 in residence or is likely to have children in the home for any reason, store said firearms in a locked and appropriate safe storage depository or rendered incapable of being fired by use of a gun locking device appropriate to that weapon. “Safe storage depository” is defined as a safe or other secure container which, when locked, is incapable of being opened without the key, combination or other unlocking mechanism and is capable of preventing an unauthorized person from obtaining access to and possession of the weapon contained therein. If signed by the Governor, violation of this law would come with a potential charge of a first-degree class A misdemeanor, which could carry a punishment of one year in jail or three years’ probation, as well as up to a $1,000 fine. The bill has not yet been delivered to the Governor for approval.