What are the standards for safe storage of firearm laws?

[GuyWithQuestions]

I live in Utah, and I talked with a police officer who said there are no laws saying that you'll be held liable for not storing your firearms in a certain way. There are laws saying you can't leave handguns with juveniles, if you don't have a permit you need to have it unloaded while in your vehicle, etc, but not that you'll be liable if you don't lock it up properly and someone commits a felony with it. I've heard that in some states, they have laws like that. I heard California has laws like that. I was just curious, in those states, what types of standards do they say that you have to prove you secured your firearm with in order to avoid prosecution if someone steals or gets into your firearms and does something with them?

 

[foghornl]

Varies by state and city/county....no nationwide standards.

Some have no 'safe storage' laws, some do. Some that do, the language looks like someone was trying to author "The Longest Great American History Novel".

The first 3 or 4 pages of my latest Ruger handgun owners manual was dedicated to various state "Safe Storage" law.

 

[Robert Hairless]

Life becomes easier if you go to the origin of such laws and recognize that the are based on the theory that the only safe gun is the one nobody owns, possesses, or uses. These laws are interim measures until that goal is accomplished. In the meantime lock the guns away as securely as possible so nobody can get to them.

Most relatively new gun owners like those laws because it makes them feel virtuous. Sinking each gun in the middle of a six foot square block of concrete would be downright comforting.

 

[thebaldguy]

Laws do vary from state to state, but a good gun safe is a good idea. In my state, there are no gun storage laws, but I feel better with my firearms and other valuables locked in my safe. As far as liability, I can just see spending thousands on a lawyer to get a case thrown out of court because someone used my stolen guns in a crime.

 

[mekender]

you wouldnt expect to get sued if someone stole a bag of golf clubs from your house and used one in a robbery... so why would you expect that someone committing a criminal act to get your firearm would be making you liable... now if you leave your guns laying in your front yard, thats one thing, but if they are "stored" behind a locked front door, that should eliminate any liability

 

[Bezoar]

varies with the jurisdiction you live in. ive seen were a handgun zippered up into a duffel bag met "safe storage laws". Ive even seen zippered gun rugs sold with that byline.
the NORMAL ideal is "gun empty untill you are hunting or target shooting with it. otherwise stored empty with at least a trigger lock on it and preferable in a gun safe of some kind".
Brady ideal; converted to bicycles.