Gun rights groups are poised to push back against the Justice Department’s model bill released this week that would give states a framework to codify gun storage rules.
The Department of Justice announced Wednesday a framework aimed at helping “more states enact sensible gun safety laws,” including requirements for securing firearms stored in residences and vehicles. , which includes a requirement to report lost or stolen firearms to law enforcement.
Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco said of the announcement, “We are condoning the loss of neighbors, loved ones, and even children to the misuse of firearms that could have been safely kept out of reach.” I can’t do that.” “The model legislation announced today will provide states with new tools to improve the safety of legally owned firearms and reduce the tragic impact of gun violence in their communities. .”
But Second Amendment advocacy groups Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the National Rifle Association (NRA) argue that this model is too broad and could undermine the self-defense mechanisms of legal gun owners. It is claimed that there is.
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“The NRA is the leader and strongest advocate for responsible firearms storage,” NRA-ILA’s Jennifer Breeman told FOX News Digital.
Breeman added that the model bill “imposes top-down, one-size-fits-all mandates on how Americans should store their guns, which is irresponsible and reckless.”
“Firearms must be stored so that they cannot be accessed by unauthorized persons, but the details will vary based on individual and family circumstances,” Breeman said.
Breeman also accused the Justice Department of using this as an opportunity to push for “extreme risk protection orders,” which she called “sugar-coated terminology for gun seizures without due process.” called.
Chris Stone, national and local director for Gun Owners of America, criticized the Justice Department. ”It would be a waste of time and resources to force state legislators in their counties to pass unconstitutional firearm storage requirements, just as they tried to do with gun confiscation laws. ”
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“Ultimately, these laws undermine the ability of law-abiding citizens to reliably obtain firearms for home defense situations and violate the privacy and private property rights of Americans.”
“We will oppose this bill fully in every state capitol and will aggressively fight back with a grassroots force if any lawmaker takes the bait,” GOA said in a statement.
Under the proposed model, a firearm owner would be required to keep the firearm locked away whenever the firearm is not carried on the owner’s person or when the owner is not nearby where the firearm can be readily retrieved and used. must be secured to the firearm. Store in a secure location or with a properly engaged tamper-evident mechanical lock or other tamper-evident safety device that renders the firearm inoperable.
The law would subject gun owners to fines if they are caught violating the law.
The Justice Department argues in its proposal that keeping firearms and ammunition locked away is associated with “reducing the risk of firearm injury to children and teens in homes where firearms are kept.” did.
Biden administration’s proposed rules to combat gun violence would require gun dealers to conduct background checks.
“Secure storage also protects adults by preventing accidental discharges and reducing the risk of gun suicide, gun theft, and criminal discharge of firearms,” the agency asserted.
The Department of Justice says that in 2020, firearm-related injuries were the leading cause of injury death for children and adolescents ages 1 to 19, and firearms were used in nearly half of all suicides among minors. , noted that the majority of suicides in kindergarten through high school students use firearms. In the shooting incident, the firearm used in the shooting was obtained from a family member.
“The Department does not support any specific enactment of safe storage laws, and the model law is not intended to provide a comprehensive firearms safety plan that can be adopted across the board,” the department said.
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“Rather, this model law draws on existing state laws and identifies key provisions that may be important to ensuring the fair, effective and safe implementation of such laws; It identifies options for states to consider when legislating in this area.”