After a 6-year-old student was accused of shooting his teacher in Newport News, Virginia, lawmakers in the Virginia Senate advanced a bill Monday that would strengthen the rules for people who keep guns in their home.
Under the legislation, adults would need to store their guns “in a locked container, compartment or cabinet,” if anyone under 18-years-old is in the home.
Ammunition would need to be “in a separate locked container, compartment or cabinet,” and the key or combination to the containers would need to be “inaccessible to any minor.”
Those who violate the rule could be charged with a misdemeanor for each gun that is not in a locked container.
“Children are bringing firearms to schools” said Lori Haas, with the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence. “If you choose to own a firearm and you choose to have it in a home with children, please lock it up.”
The bill passed 9-6 in the Senate Judiciary Committee, with Democrats in favor and Republicans against it.
“It is up to us to be the adults and protect our children from harming themselves or others,” said the bill’s sponsor, Democratic Sen. Jennifer Boysko.
Those opposed to the bill pointed to cases where teenagers have used guns to protect themselves, or to stop home invasions when there were not adults around.
“We have plenty of teenagers out there who have been raised around firearms,” said Philip Van Cleave, who heads the Virginia Citizens Defense League. “They have been taught to safely handle them.”
Van Cleave argued it is “not practical” to lock up ammunition.
“I have thousands of rounds,” Van Cleave said. “It would take a huge cabinet.”
While it may pass in the Senate, the measure faces an uphill challenge in the Republican-controlled House of Delegates, where leaders have said they would address gun violence this year by improving the mental health care system, boosting funding for law enforcement and strengthening penalties for criminals.