Illinois Senate Bill 8, known as the Safety Gun Storage Act, has successfully passed through the state legislature and is now headed to the governor for approval. If enacted, the law will require gun owners to securely store their firearms in containers when around children and at-risk individuals, addressing a growing concern over unintentional shootings—of which there have been 2,802 cases involving children in the United States from 2015 to 2022.
The proposed legislation introduces significant penalties for non-compliance, with fines starting at $500 and escalating up to $10,000 for serious violations. This initiative aims to enhance safety measures and accountability among gun owners in Illinois, particularly in households where firearms may be accessible to minors or individuals without a firearm owner’s identification card.
Read full story at thesouthern.com