WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2025 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
House Bill 2692
By Delegate Young
Introduced February 20, 2025; referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §61-7-18, related to requiring the safe storage of firearms.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
(a) A person who stores or leaves, on a premise under his or her control, a firearm, as defined in §61-7-2 of this code, and who knows or reasonably should know that a minor is likely to gain access to the firearm without the lawful permission of the minor’s parent or the person having charge of the minor, or without the supervision required by law, shall keep the firearm in a securely locked box or container or in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure or shall secure it with a trigger lock, except when the person is carrying the firearm on his or her body or within such close proximity thereto that he or she can retrieve and use it as easily and quickly as if he or she carried it on his or her body.
(b) It is a misdemeanor, punishable by 60 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $500, if a person violates this section by failing to store or leave a firearm in the required manner and as a result thereof a minor gains access to the firearm, without the lawful permission of the minor’s parent or the person having charge of the minor, and possesses or exhibits it, without the supervision required by law:
(1) In a public place; or
(2) In a rude, careless, angry, or threatening manner in violation of §61-7-11 of this code.
(c) This subsection does not apply if the minor obtains the firearm as a result of an unlawful entry by any person.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require the safe storage of firearms.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law, and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.