WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 2578

failure to secure weapon; minor

57th Legislature - Second Regular Session Introduced by Anna Abeytia and 16 co-sponsors

Arizona bill criminalizes adults' failure to secure firearms from minor access, imposing penalties to reduce unintentional pediatric firearm injuries.

House First Reading.
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 2578

Legislative bill overview

HB 2578 would establish criminal liability for adults who fail to secure firearms in a manner that allows minors to access them. The bill creates a new offense specifically addressing negligent storage of weapons when children are present or have access to a residence or vehicle.

Why is this important

Unintentional pediatric firearm access remains a significant public health concern, with thousands of children injured or killed annually through unsecured weapons. This legislation attempts to reduce these incidents by imposing legal consequences on adults responsible for firearm storage, creating financial and criminal incentives for safer practices.

Potential points of contention

  • Second Amendment concerns: Gun rights advocates may argue the bill infringes on firearm ownership rights or creates unfair liability for law-abiding gun owners
  • Enforcement and prosecution challenges: Questions about how authorities determine negligence, whether intent matters, and how broadly "access" is defined
  • Household complexity: Disputes over liability when multiple adults share spaces, visiting relatives, or ambiguous ownership situations create practical enforcement difficulties
  • Effectiveness debate: Disagreement over whether criminal penalties alone meaningfully change storage behavior without accompanying education and safe storage device subsidies

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.