Gun ownership carries with it many serious risks and responsibilities. When firearms aren’t properly stored, the likelihood of unintentional discharge increases significantly, as well as the risk of them being stolen or used in a suicide. And yet, a study revealed that 4.6 million U.S. children live in a home with at least one loaded and unlocked weapon.[1] All it takes is for one curious child to pick up what they see as a toy for another life to be taken too soon.

To better protect our families, the Assembly Majority passed legislation that would require gun owners to securely lock their weapons in an appropriate safe storage depository or use a device to render it incapable of being fired if there is a child under age 16 or an individual who is legally barred from possessing guns residing in the home (A.2686-A). Failure to do so would result in a class A misdemeanor charge for a first-degree offense and a maximum fine of $250 for a second-degree offense.

This measure will also help reduce the incidence of suicide by firearms. The effect of safe storage on youth suicide is apparent in Massachusetts, the only state with a comprehensive safe storage law on the books. The youth suicide rate in Massachusetts is 35 percent lower than the national average, and guns are used in only 9 percent of youth suicides compared to the national average of 39 percent.[2]

Today, we build on the Assembly Majority’s commitment to commonsense gun safety initiatives like the ones we passed earlier this year, including a new law that creates an extreme risk protection order (Ch. 19 of 2019). Additionally, a law we passed last year, the Domestic Violence Escalation Prevention Act, prohibits someone who has been convicted of a domestic violence crime from purchasing or possessing a firearm (Ch. 60 of 2018). We must continue taking steps that curb senseless violence, while respecting the rights of law-abiding gun owners. Assembly bill 2686-A strikes that balance.

[1] ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29748766

[2] lawcenter.giffords.org/gun-laws/policy-areas/child-consumer-safety/safe-storage