HB224 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Barbara DrummondRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Firearms, criminal penalty for unreasonably secured firearm stored by parent in possession of child

Summary

HB224 would create a penalty for parents or guardians who do not reasonably secure a firearm, if a minor gains access and possesses it on a public school, while updating language and defining several exceptions and terms.

What This Bill Does

It makes it a Class A misdemeanor for a parent or legal guardian if their failure to reasonably secure a firearm results in a minor unlawfully possessing the firearm on public school premises. It defines 'reasonably secure' to include safety measures like a trigger lock, a locked box, or a gun safe that requires a key, code, or fingerprint to open. It lists exceptions that allow a minor to possess a firearm in certain supervised or permitted activities (such as hunter education, firearms safety courses, supervised practice or competition, and hunting/fishing with proper license and permissions) under specific conditions. It also provides various definitions and exemptions (for example, from self-defense situations and for certain officials) and states the bill becomes effective October 1, 2024; and notes it is exempt from local-funding approval rules under the Constitution.

Who It Affects

• Parents or legal guardians of minors — could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor if a minor accesses an unsecured firearm on a public school campus.
• Minors — may possess firearms only in the supervised or permitted contexts described in the bill; otherwise, the new parent/guardian penalty could apply.
• School security personnel, school resource officers, law enforcement, and permit holders — are exempt from the new prohibition and not subject to the penalty when carrying or possessing firearms under their duties or permits.

Key Provisions

• Creates a new penalty: a parent or guardian who fails to reasonably secure a firearm and whose minor gains access and possesses it on a public school premises commits a Class A misdemeanor.
• Defines 'reasonably secure' as including measures such as a trigger lock, a locked box, or a gun safe that requires a key, code, or biometric access.
• Enumerates exceptions allowing minor possession under supervision or specific activities (hunter education, firearms safety courses, supervised practice or competition, hunting/fishing with license and permission, and certain travel scenarios) with conditions.
• Exempts certain individuals from the prohibition (school security personnel, law enforcement, and permit holders) and includes a self-defense-related carve-out for minors in certain residence settings.
• Provides numerous definitions (public school, deadly weapon, qualified individual, school resource officer, unsound mind, valid protection order, etc.) to support the bill's terms.
• Effective date is October 1, 2024.
• Notes that the bill is exempt from Section 111.05 local-funds requirements due to existing constitutional exceptions.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes & Offenses; Firearms