Senator Portantino’s Gun Storage Bill Passes Senate, Heads to Governor’s Desk
For Immediate Release: August 28, 2024
Contact: Lerna Shirinian, (818) 409-0400
Senator Portantino’s Gun Storage Bill Passes Senate, Heads to Governor’s Desk
Sacramento, CA – Senate Bill 53, authored by Senator Anthony J. Portantino (D – Burbank), passed both houses of the Legislature and is headed to the Governor for signature. The bill expands on Senator Portantino’s earlier firearm safe storage efforts by expanding storage requirments to thwart suicide, unintentional shootings, and theft in all homes were a firearm is present. Senator Portantino authored SB 172, which was signed into law in 2019 and mandated storage responsibility in homes with minors. SB 53 builds on that effort and will make Californians even more safe. President Biden is modeling a national safe storage effort on SB 172 and Senator Portantino recently attended the Biden Administration’s Safer States Initiative at the White House, where he had the opportunity to promote his safe storage efforts.
“Safely storing your firearm is commonsense public safety policy,” stated Senator Portantino. “SB 53 will unequivocally save lives by ensuring that a firearm is stored in a manner that will prevent unintentional firearm injuries, protect Californians in the home, and deter violence in public. Safe storage is proven to reduce firearm injuries and I’m pleased to be tightening and expanding California’s existing law. I look forward to the Governor’s signature on this life saving effort.”
Death by firearm is the number one cause of death for children in the United States. States that have safe storage laws have seen a 78 percent drop in unintentional shootings committed by children compared to states that do not have safe storage laws in place. Additionally, firearms are the most lethal method used in suicide deaths, with a fatality rate of approximately 90%.
SB 53 would require a person who possesses a firearm in a residence to keep the firearm securely stored when the firearm is not being carried. A firearm is securely stored if the it is maintained within, locked by, or disabled using a certified firearm safety device or secure gun safe that meets specified standards.
Under SB 53, a first and 2nd violation of this offense punishable as an infraction, and a 3rd or subsequent violation is punishable as a misdemeanor. The bill would exempt firearms that are unloaded antiques or unloaded antique firearms and require the Department of Justice to seek to inform residents about these standards for storage of firearms.
“Every day, eight children and teens are injured or killed due to family fire – a shooting that results from someone misusing an unsecured firearm from the home,” stated Tanya Schardt, Senior Counsel and Director of State and Federal Policy at Brady. “Safe storage is a proven, life-saving tactic that can stop these devastating tragedies before they happen. SB 53 will help enshrine this tactic in California, expanding safe storage laws, and changing the laws and culture of firearms. With firearm ownership growing, and approximately 7.5 million adults in America acquiring their first firearm between 2019 and 2021, this bill is absolutely pivotal. We at Brady want to thank Senator Portantino, and we applaud this common-sense step towards ending the gun violence epidemic.”
SB 53 is supported by the Brady Campaign, Alzheimer’s Los Angeles, Alzheimer’s Orange County, Alzheimer’s San Diego, Brady California, Everytown for Gun Safety, Giffords Courage to Fight Gun Violence, Moms Demand Action, Scrubs Addressing the Firearm Epidemic (SAFE), Silicon Valley Alliance for Gun Safety, and Students Demand Action.
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