Bill · H.R. 4225· House(119-HR-4225)
Protect Children Through Safe Gun Ownership Act
- Introduced
- 6/27/2025
- Last activity
- 6/27/2025 — Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Sponsored by
- Madeleine Dean
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Protect Children Through Safe Gun Ownership Act" aims to amend title 18 of the United States Code regarding firearm possession and storage. It requires parents or guardians to have actual knowledge that a juvenile's handgun possession occurs under active supervision. The bill also mandates that firearms be kept secure or carried on a person to avoid being considered "unsecured." It establishes civil money penalties for failing to secure firearms and creates a private right of action for injured individuals or their families. Additionally, the Act authorizes grants for local educational agencies to provide gun safety education to parents.
Yes· 3 of 4
Would children be better off under this?+5
The bill aims to increase safety for children through supervised firearm possession and educational grants.
Does this put more limits on buying or owning guns?+5
The bill implements stricter gun storage requirements and supervision rules for juveniles.
Does this give the federal government more power?+3
The bill expands federal oversight regarding firearm storage and juvenile possession.
The opposite
Would gun owners be better off under this?-6
The bill imposes fines, transfer restrictions, and civil liability on firearm owners.
Does this protect the right to own guns?-5
The bill imposes new restrictions on firearm storage and potential penalties that could affect ownership rights.
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?-2
The creation of civil penalties and private rights of action imposes new legal burdens on individuals.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Enhanced Supervision for Juveniles: Under Section 2, a parent or guardian can only provide written consent for a juvenile to possess a handgun if they have actual knowledge that the juvenile is under the active supervision of the transferor or another authorized adult.
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Increased Accountability for Firearm Storage: Section 3(a) requires that any person who keeps or stores a firearm must either carry it on their person or keep it secured by a secure gun storage or safety device, preventing firearms from being left unsecured.
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Legal Recourse for Victims: Section 3(a)(B) provides a private right of action, allowing an injured individual (or their family/estate) to sue for damages if they are harmed due to a violation of the secure storage requirements.
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Educational Support for Parents: Section 4 authorizes competitive grants for local educational agencies to provide parents with materials and information sessions regarding gun safety and how to keep guns secure from children.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Financial Penalties for Owners: Section 3(b) imposes civil money penalties on individuals for violating secure storage requirements, with fines of up to $1,000 for a first violation and up to $5,000 for subsequent violations.
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Restrictions on Firearm Transfers: Under Section 3(c) and (d), individuals who have been assessed a civil money penalty for a storage violation can be denied the transfer of a firearm through the national instant criminal background check system for a period of 5 years.
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Liability Burdens: Section 3(a)(B)(i) establishes that liability for unsecured firearms can be joint and several, and can be brought against any person who, when the violation occurred, was in control of the premises and knew or should have known an unsecured firearm was present.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Increases Federal Power+3Improves Government Transparency+1Improves Due Process-2
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+5Good For Gun Owners-6
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Gun Control Measures+5Improves Second Amendment Protections-5
- 6/27/2025
- Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House