H.R. 9399: Juvenile Firearms Safety Act of 2026

This bill would add new federal criminal penalties for adults who give firearms to juveniles, or who fail to store firearms securely when a juvenile is likely to get access to them, and the firearm is then used in a crime or causes harm.

What the bill does

• It makes it unlawful for a person age 18 or older to knowingly give a juvenile a firearm other than a handgun if the adult knows, or has reason to believe, the juvenile plans to use it to harm themselves or commit a crime.
• It also makes it unlawful for an adult to keep a firearm in a home, vehicle, or other place under their control if they know, or reasonably should know, that a juvenile is likely to get unauthorized access to it, and the juvenile later uses it in a crime or causes injury or death.
• The bill says a decision-maker can consider warning signs, such as:
  • concerns raised about the juvenile’s mental health,
  • prior violent acts by the juvenile, or
  • knowledge that the juvenile may be suicidal or has self-harmed before.

Exceptions and limits

• The secure-storage rule would not apply if the firearm is kept:
  • secured with a gun lock, safe, or similar safety device,
  • in a place a reasonable person would think is secure, or
  • carried on the person or close enough to be readily accessible.
• The bill says it does not stop juveniles from taking part in lawful firearm activities with a parent’s or guardian’s permission.
• It also says it does not change existing laws about minors giving guns to other minors, or existing laws about an adult’s responsibility when a minor uses a gun the adult did not directly provide.

Penalties

• A violation could bring a fine, up to 1 year in prison, or both.
• If the firearm is used in a crime, the penalty could be up to 2 years in prison.
• If the juvenile gets the gun because of unsafe storage and then injures or kills someone, the penalty could be up to 5 years in prison.
• If the adult directly provided the firearm in violation of the bill and the juvenile then injures or kills someone, the penalty could be up to 10 years in prison.

Relevant Companies

None found