State Safe Storage Grade: A-
Summary: This state has just recently passed a set of good safe gun storage laws.
The state's gun death rate is 17.8 per 100k which is the 18th-worst in the country according to the (CDC).
- Age and Definition: Guns must be stored so that juveniles under the age of 18 cannot gain access to them. The law also applies to anyone legally ineligible to possess a firearm.
- Penalty for Death or Injury: Class 2 Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail and a fine of up to $1250
- Penalty for Negligent Storage: Class 2 Misdemeanor: Up to 1 year in jail and a fine of up to $1250
- Gun Status: None
- Safe or Locks Mandated: None
- Exceptions: None
- Other: None
Significant Notes: "The bill requires licensed gun dealers to provide with each firearm, at the time of a firearm sale or transfer, a locking device capable of securing the firearm. Transferring a firearm without a locking device is an unclassified misdemeanor punishable by a maximum $500 fine.
The bill requires the state court administrator to annually report to the general assembly about the number of charges related to unsafe firearms storage and the disposition of those charges.
The bill requires the office of suicide prevention within the department of public health and environment (department) to include on its website, and in materials provided to firearms-related businesses and health care providers, information about the offense of unlawful storage of a firearm, penalties for providing a handgun to a juvenile or allowing a juvenile to possess a firearm, and the requirement that gun dealers provide a locking device with each firearm transferred. Subject to available money, the department is required to develop and implement a firearms safe storage education campaign to educate the public about the safe storage of firearms, state requirements related to firearms safety and storage, and information about voluntary temporary firearms storage programs."
