By creating a law that calls for stricter storage requirements for firearms owners, Assemblywoman Joann Downey believes unnecessary tragedies can be avoided and the threat of gun violence in schools stemmed.
An Assembly panel recently advanced seven measures to address gun safety concerns, including legislation sponsored by Downey (D-11) and fellow Democrat Eric Houghtaling (D-11), which specifically targets safe storage of unloaded firearms in the home, as well as mandatory education of firearm dealers about suicide prevention.
According to testimony about the bill provided by Downey to the Assembly Judiciary Committee, though there are requirements and penalties meant to protect children from accessing loaded firearms that are not in use, there is no general requirement for the storage of unloaded firearms.
The lack of regulation allows gun owners to leave weaponry in accessible locations like a kitchen table or a bedroom nightstand, even with ammunition situated nearby.
“There are no protections against an all too familiar story we’ve seen in the news, like a young person who is suffering from anxiety or depression and then locates their parent’s gun. They take their own life and leave their family to mourn a senseless tragedy,” Downey said.
The Center of Injury Research and Prevention at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia published statistics stating that 1.7 million children live with unlocked, loaded guns in their homes.
Additionally, 75 percent of first and second graders know where their parents store their weapons and approximately 36 percent admitted to handling the family firearm without parental permission.
Another staggering figure is that 80 percent of guns used in youth suicide attempts were reportedly stored in the victim’s home or accessed in the home of a friend or relative.
It was a particularly disturbing sentiment for Houghtaling, who recognized a mental health concern among youth across the nation and citied several instances of youth suicide in his district during a June 17 interview with The Two River Times.
“This is about responsibility,” Houghtaling said. “If you’re going to own a gun it’s not too much to ask that you store it properly. I’m not here to be anti-gun person. I’m not preaching about limiting a gun owner’s rights. But we have to be better about keeping guns out of the hands of those who are inexperienced, like young children.”
The first of two bills (A-3696) requires the safe storage of a firearm and establishes penalties for improper firearm storage. Under the measure, a legal owner of a firearm that is not in use at a premise under the owner’s control is required to store the firearm in a securely locked box or container in a location, which a reasonable person would believe to be secure. Users may also secure the firearm with a trigger lock.
Those who fail to adhere to the mandate will be found guilty of a disorderly persons offense, which carries the potential for a six-month prison sentence and a maximum $1,000 fine.
The second piece of legislation (A-3896) requires the State Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal to cooperate with the Shareef M. Elnahal, the commissioner of health, to develop suicide prevention course curriculum and informational materials for retail firearm dealers who sell guns or operate a firing range to display and distribute to patrons.
“We talk about parents and guardians practicing responsible gun ownership, but the same needs to extend to those who are selling guns in this state,” Houghtaling said. “Again, it comes down to taking responsibility. When you’re in that business, you have a responsibility to inform your customers. And we certainly need to take responsibility in creating information that can be consumed.”
According to Houghtaling, the informational materials would advise store customers and firing range patrons about different ways to prevent a friend or family member in crisis from accessing their weapon.
Both bills are due to go before Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D-19) for fur ther consideration.
“No other reasonable nation allows for firearms to be left unsecured where any child or thief can easily obtain them. If every firearm in New Jersey were safely secured in a locked container tomorrow, we would see the rate of suicides, unintentional tragedies and school shootings rapidly plummet,” Downey said.
