PROVIDENCE — With final votes in the Senate, Thursday night, June 6, the General Assembly has approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Justine Caldwell and Sen. Pamela J. Lauria to require safe storage of firearms in Rhode Island.

The legislation now heads to the desk of Gov. Dan McKee for his signature. The governor had previously stated his support of  the bill.

The legislation (2024-H 7373A, 2024-S 2202aa) will require that all firearms, when not in use by the owner or another authorized user, be stored in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device properly engaged in order to render the firearm inoperable. Massachusetts and Connecticut already have similar laws.

“We have insurance mandates for the coverage of pediatric cancer because it’s unacceptable not to do all we can to prevent children from dying of cancer. We require appropriate restraints in vehicles because it’s unacceptable not to protect children from dying in car crashes. But gun violence, not cancer or car collisions, is the leading cause of death for children, and that’s unacceptable when we have the tools to decrease its occurrence. This is the seat belt law for responsible gun ownership,” said Lauria (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence.

She added, “More than 4.6 million U.S. children live in a home with a loaded, unlocked gun, and every one of those children deserves better safety. It’s critical for the safety of kids and the public that all gun owners are responsible and keep their firearms securely stored.”

Under the legislation, unsafe storage of a firearm would be a civil offense punishable by a fine of up to $250 for a first offense and $1,000 for a second. Any subsequent violation would be punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $500.

Currently, Rhode Island punishes those who leave a firearm where a child can get it, but only if it is loaded and the child causes injury with it. Those convicted face a fine of $1,000 but no jail time.

The bill also expands that law so it applies regardless of whether the gun is loaded and extends it to cover not only children but adults who are prohibited by law from possessing firearms.

Violators would be charged with second-degree criminal firearm storage if such a person were able to gain access to the improperly stored weapon, and face up to a year in prison and up to $1,000 in fines.

If the child or prohibited person were to cause injury with the firearm, the person responsible for the improper storage of the gun could face a first-degree charge, with up to 5 years in prison and $5,000 in fines.

The legislation is supported by all five of the state’s general officers. The House bill is cosponsored by Rep. Jason Knight (D-Dist. 67, Barrington, Warren), Rep. Jennifer Boylan (D-Dist. 66, Barrington, East Providence), Majority Whip Katherine S. Kazarian (D-Dist. 63, East Providence, Pawtucket) and in the Senate by Majority Whip Valarie J. Lawson (D-Dist. 14, East Providence), Walter S. Felag, Jr. (D-Dist. 10, Warren, Bristol, Tiverton) and Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton).

In a separate statement, Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence Executive Director Melissa Carden said, “We are grateful to the Senate and House leadership, the bill sponsors Senator Lauria and Representative Caldwell, Governor McKee, Lt. Governor Matos, Attorney General Neronha, Secretary of State Amore, Treasurer Diossa and all of our coalition partners and volunteers for their steadfast support in advocating for this legislation and thereby saving Rhode Islanders from preventable gun violence."