State Safe Storage Grade: A
Summary: This state has excellent safe storage laws. The state's gun death rate is 7.2 per 100k which is the 7th best in the country according to the (CDC).
- Age and Definition: California has an EXCELLENT safe gun storage law. Click the link for the exact law. Here is a brief summary.
First Degree Felony: It is a first-degree criminal felony if a poorly secured gun is used by a child to gravely injure or kill someone.
Second Degree Felony: It is a second-degree criminal felony if a poorly secured gun is used by a child to injure someone.
Third Degree Felony: It is a third-degree criminal felony if a gun is poorly secured gun in a home with children under the age of 18.
Note: California also has an excellent safe storage law for guns stored in vehicles.
(a) Criminal storage of a firearm in the first degree is punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for 16 months, or two or three years, by a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine; or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine.
(b) Criminal storage of a firearm in the second degree is punishable by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, by a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or by both that imprisonment and fine.
(c) Criminal storage of a firearm in the third degree is punishable as a misdemeanor.
- Gun Status: Loaded or Unloaded
- Safe or Locks Mandated: No
- Exceptions:
(a) The child obtains the firearm as a result of an illegal entry to any premises by any person.
(b) The firearm is kept in a locked container or in a location that a reasonable person would believe to be secure.
(c) The firearm is carried on the person or within close enough proximity thereto that the individual can readily retrieve and use the firearm as if carried on the person.
(d) The firearm is locked with a locking device, as defined in Section 16860, which has rendered the firearm inoperable.
(e) The person is a peace officer or a member of the Armed Forces or the National Guard and the child obtains the firearm during, or incidental to, the performance of the person’s duties.
(f) The child obtains, or obtains and discharges, the firearm in a lawful act of self-defense or defense of another person.
(g) The person who keeps a firearm on premises that are under the 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.
Summary: VICTORY! New Mexico has just passed 