State Safe Storage Grade: C-

Summary: This state has limited safe storage, child access prevention laws for kids at home with guns. The state's gun death rate is 10.7 per 100k which is the 16th best in the country according to the (CDC).

• Age and Definition: The law only applies if the firearm is used recklessly. Children under 16 are in the home.   Any person who stores or leaves on premises under that person's control a loaded firearm, and who knows or reasonably should know that a child is likely to gain access to the firearm without the permission of the child's parent or guardian, is guilty of a violation if a child gains access to a firearm and:
  (a) The firearm is used in a reckless or threatening manner;
  (b) The firearm is used during the commission of any misdemeanor or felony; or
  (c) The firearm is negligently or recklessly discharged.
• Penalty: Maximum penalty is only $1,000.
• Gun Status: Only applies to guns stored loaded
• Safe or Locks Mandated: No.  But gun dealers Licensees shall conspicuously post at each purchase counter the following warning in bold type not less than one inch in height: "IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE OWNER OF A FIREARM SEEK FIREARM SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS FROM A CERTIFIED FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR AND KEEP FIREARMS SECURED FROM UNAUTHORIZED USE.'' A licensee failing to display this warning to the purchaser of a firearm shall be guilty of a violation.
•  Exceptions

The law does not apply if any of these six exceptions occur:

(a) The child has completed firearm safety instructions by a certified firearms safety instructor or has successfully completed a certified hunter safety course.
(b) The firearm is kept secured in a locked box, gun safe, or other secure locked space, or in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure, or is secured with a trigger lock or similar device that prevents the firearm from discharging.
(c) The firearm is carried on the person or within such a close proximity thereto so that the individual can readily retrieve and use the firearm as if carried on the person.
(d) The child obtains or obtains and discharges the firearm in a lawful act of self-defense or defense of another person.
(e) The person who keeps a loaded firearm on any premises which are under such person's custody or control has no reasonable expectation, based on objective facts and circumstances, that a child is likely to be present on the premises.
(f) The child obtains the firearm as a result of an illegal entry of any premises by any person or an illegal taking of the firearm from the premises of the owner without permission of the owner.