Welch, House Democrats Deliver Safe Gun Storage Bill

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch and House Democrats are working to keep guns out of the wrong hands, protect children from accidental shootings, and track lost and stolen firearms by passing a new ‘safe storage’ bill.

“Keeping communities safe from gun violence starts with keeping guns out of the wrong hands—that means out of the hands of children who are too young to know that a firearm is not a toy, out of the hands of people who are a threat to themselves, and out of the hands of those who would steal a gun to commit a crime,” Welch said. “Once again, House Democrats have brought stakeholders to the table and delivered commonsense gun safety protections that balances the need for safe communities with the rights of responsible gun owners.”

Welch and Rep. Maura Hirschauer led House Democrats’ efforts to pass Senate Bill 8, known as the Safe Gun Storage Act, which will enhance gun storage safety and address stolen firearm requirements with the ultimate goal to prevent access to firearms by minors, at-risk individuals, and those prohibited from possessing them. The bill would require firearm owners to secure their weapons in a locked container, rendering them inaccessible and unusable to anyone except the owner or an authorized user.

Additional provisions in House Bill 850 will tighten lost and stolen gun reporting requirements. Under these measures, gunowners must inform law enforcement within 48 hours of discovering a gun in their ownership is missing. 

“We’ve heard too many tragedies involving firearms that could have easily been prevented," said Hirschauer. “I’m pleased that we’re moving forward with this legislation where I anticipate the governor will agree with its importance. Putting a law like this in our books means we’re taking the necessary steps to address the deadly implications of firearms not being properly stored and falling into the wrong hands.”

Senate Bill 8 now awaits the governor’s signature.