AB 861

This bill prohibits a person from storing or leaving a firearm at his or her

residence if the person resides with a child who is under the age of 18, or knows a child

who is under the age of 18 will be present in the residence, unless the firearm is in

a securely locked box or container or other secure locked location or has a trigger lock

engaged. A person who violates this prohibition is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor

for a first offense and a Class I felony for a subsequent offense. This replaces the

current law that penalizes a person who recklessly stores or leaves a loaded firearm

within reach of a child who is under 14 if the child obtains it and does one of the

following: 1) discharges the firearm and causes bodily harm or death (Class A

misdemeanor); or 2) possesses or exhibits the firearm in a public place or endangers

public safety (Class C misdemeanor).

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime,

the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a

report.