Senate Bill 368 aims to enhance firearm safety in residences where children under the age of 18 are present. The bill prohibits individuals from storing or leaving firearms in their homes unless the firearms are secured in a locked box, container, or location, or have a trigger lock engaged. Violations of this prohibition will result in a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class I felony for subsequent offenses. This new regulation replaces the existing law that penalizes reckless storage of loaded firearms accessible to children under 14, which had different criteria for penalties based on the child's actions.

Additionally, the bill amends existing statutes regarding the consideration of circumstances by district attorneys and law enforcement officers in cases involving accidental shootings. Specifically, it removes references to previous penalties related to firearm storage violations and establishes a waiting period of at least seven days before law enforcement can arrest a parent or guardian of a child injured or killed in an accidental shooting. This legislative change reflects a shift towards stricter firearm storage requirements to protect children and a more measured approach to enforcement in sensitive situations involving minors.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 948.55, 968.02(4), 968.02, 968.07(3), 968.07