Firearms; making certain act unlawful. Effective date.
Summary
SB 150 creates a new criminal offense for improperly storing or leaving a firearm in a way that allows a minor to access it without supervision. The bill requires firearms that are not in use to be secured in a locked container or with a locking or disabling device, other than the firearm’s built-in safety, so that the weapon is inaccessible or temporarily inoperable to a child.
The bill establishes two levels of punishment. A general violation of the safe-storage requirement would be a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in county jail, a fine of up to $500, or both. If the unsafe storage results in a minor obtaining access to the firearm and that access leads to bodily injury, great bodily injury, or death to the minor or another person, the offense becomes a felony punishable by two to twenty years in prison, a fine of up to $5,000, or both. The act would take effect November 1, 2025.
Impact
SB 150 would add a new section to Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, creating a state-law duty for firearm owners to secure guns against unsupervised access by minors. It would expand criminal liability for negligent firearm storage and provide prosecutors with a misdemeanor offense for unsafe storage and a felony offense when that conduct leads to serious harm. The bill would affect gun owners, households with children, and law enforcement and prosecutors responsible for enforcing firearm-safety and child-endangerment-related offenses.
Sentiment
The available legislative record shows limited discussion and no recorded votes or committee testimony, so there is no clear evidence of broad support or opposition from the provided materials. Based on the bill’s referral to Public Safety, the measure appears to have been treated as a firearms-safety proposal rather than a controversial floor debate item in the available record. The text itself suggests a public-safety rationale centered on preventing child access to firearms and reducing accidental shootings.
Contention
The main point of contention is likely the balance between firearm safety and criminal liability for gun owners. Supporters would likely view the bill as a child-protection measure that encourages responsible storage and prevents accidental injury or death, while opponents may argue that it imposes criminal penalties on lawful gun owners for storage mistakes and could be difficult to enforce. The felony enhancement for injuries or death is the most severe provision and would likely be the focus of debate over proportional punishment and whether the law reaches negligent conduct too broadly.