In minors, providing for the offense of access to firearms by minors; and imposing penalties.
Summary
SB 770 would add a new section to Pennsylvania’s Crimes and Offenses Code creating the offense of “access to firearms by minors.” The bill requires a person who stores or leaves a firearm on premises under their control to keep it in a securely locked box or container, or otherwise in a location a reasonable person would consider secure, when the person knows or reasonably should know that a minor is likely to gain access without parental or guardian permission. The bill also states that the requirement does not apply when a minor obtains the firearm through unlawful entry by another person.
The bill establishes penalties tied to the outcome of the access. A first violation resulting in a minor possessing the firearm would be a summary offense with no jail time; a second or subsequent violation would be a third-degree misdemeanor. If the firearm is used in a crime or in an incident causing death or grievous injury, the offense would be graded as a third-degree felony. The bill also requires firearms retailers to post a warning notice about unlawful storage and the associated penalties, and it creates a fingerprinting procedure so authorities can determine whether a defendant has a prior violation for grading purposes.
Impact
SB 770 would create a new state criminal offense and storage obligation for firearm owners, expanding Pennsylvania law on child access prevention and safe storage. It would also impose a posting requirement on retail firearm sellers and add a fingerprint-based process for summary cases to identify repeat offenders. In practice, the bill would affect gun owners, parents and guardians, firearm retailers, local police, the Pennsylvania State Police, and issuing authorities handling summary offenses.
Sentiment
Based on the bill’s sponsorship and the lack of recorded committee debate or votes in the provided materials, the available context suggests the measure is being advanced as a firearm safety and child-protection bill. The sponsor list indicates support from multiple Democratic senators, and the bill’s structure reflects a public-safety approach focused on preventing minors from accessing unsecured firearms. No contrary sentiment is documented in the supplied record.
Contention
The main points of contention likely concern whether the bill places too much criminal liability on firearm owners for a minor’s access, how broadly the “reasonably should know” standard would apply, and whether the storage requirement is sufficiently clear. Another likely issue is the felony enhancement when a firearm is later used in a crime or causes death or grievous injury, which could be viewed as a strong penalty for negligent storage. Firearms-rights advocates may also object to the retailer notice requirement and the new enforcement and fingerprinting procedures, while supporters would likely emphasize child safety and accident prevention.
In firearms and other dangerous articles, providing for safe storage of firearm when residing with a person not to possess a firearm; and imposing penalties.