Bill would penalize Louisiana gun owners if minors access unsecured firearms; most states already have storage laws

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A Louisiana lawmaker is proposing legislation that would make it a crime to improperly store a loaded firearm if a child gains access and causes harm.

House Bill 220, authored by state Rep. Matthew Willard (D-New Orleans), would create the crime of unlawful storage of a firearm. The bill targets cases in which a minor gains access to a loaded firearm inside a home or vehicle and either fires it or attempts to injure or kill themselves or someone else.

If passed, violators could face up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

The proposed law includes two key exceptions:

• It would not apply if the firearm was stolen during an unlawful entry the home or vehicle. such as a burglar.
• It would also not apply if the child accessed the gun legally and with adult permission, for supervised hunting, sport shooting, or lawful activities.

The bill defines “firearm” broadly to include:

• Pistols and revolvers.
• Rifles and shotguns.
• Machine guns, submachine guns, and black powder weapons
• Any weapon capable of firing a projectile with explosives

Louisiana has faced repeated tragedies involving children and unsecured firearms in recent years. In 2024 alone, several young children in Baton Rouge, Brusly, and Hammond accidentally shot themselves after finding loaded guns, with some incidents resulting in death.

One high-profile case involved a Baton Rouge mother, Arieana Scott, whose four-year-old son fatally shot himself after finding a loaded handgun in their home. Scott was later charged with negligent homicide and other offenses after an investigation revealed unsecured firearms and evidence of drug activity.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unintentional injury is a leading cause of death among U.S. children and adolescents, with firearms among the most common injury methods.

A July 2024 analysis by RAND Corporation found that 27 states and Washington, D.C. have laws making it illegal to negligently store firearms. Another nine states only make it illegal to “recklessly provide firearms to children.” Louisiana currently has no law specifically criminalizing negligent firearm storage around minors.

HB220 is currently pending in the House Administration of Criminal Justice Committee.

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