Sean Casten (D-IL)
Juvenile Firearms Safety Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Juvenile Firearms Safety Act of 2026 aims to amend title 18 of the United States Code. It establishes criminal penalties for individuals 18 years or older who provide firearms to juveniles under specific circumstances. This includes providing a firearm, other than a handgun, when there is knowledge or reasonable cause to believe it will be used for self-harm or crime. The bill also addresses the storage of firearms if a juvenile gains unauthorized access and causes injury, death, or commits a crime. It includes specific provisions regarding what constitutes a violation and provides exceptions for secure storage.
Yes
- Scored +6
Does this put more limits on buying or owning guns?
The bill establishes new criminal penalties for providing firearms to juveniles intended for crimes or self-harm and for negligent storage.
- Scored +5
Would children be better off under this?
The bill aims to reduce juvenile access to firearms used for crimes or self-harm through increased adult accountability.
The opposite
- Scored -4
Would gun owners be better off under this?
The bill imposes criminal liability and potential imprisonment on adults for how they store or provide firearms if a juvenile gains access.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Criminal Penalties for Unsafe Provision of Firearms: The bill creates penalties for those who knowingly provide a firearm, other than a handgun, to a juvenile who intends to use it for self-harm or crime (Section 2, subsection (aa)(1)(A)).
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Accountability for Unsafe Storage: It imposes penalties on people who keep firearms if they know or should know a juvenile is likely to gain unauthorized access and that the juvenile subsequently uses the firearm to commit a crime or cause injury or death (Section 2, subsection (aa)(1)(B)).
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Consideration of Warning Signs: Fact finders can consider whether a person was warned about a juvenile's mental health, prior acts of violence, or suicidality when determining a violation (Section 2, subsection (2)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Criminal Penalties for Storage Failures: A person could face fines and imprisonment of up to 5 years if a juvenile gains unauthorized access to a stored firearm and causes injury or death (Section 3, subsection (9)(C)).
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Strict Penalties for Providing Firearms: If a person provides a firearm in violation of the rules regarding intent for self-harm or crime, they could face fines and imprisonment for up to 10 years if a juvenile causes injury or death (Section 3, subsection (9)(D)).
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Penalties if Firearm is used in a Crime: If a firearm provided to a juvenile is used in the commission of a crime, the provider can be fined and imprisoned for up to 2 years (Section 3, subsection (9)(B)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this put more limits on buying or owning guns? — The bill establishes new criminal penalties for providing firearms to juveniles intended for crimes or self-harm and for negligent storage.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill aims to reduce juvenile access to firearms used for crimes or self-harm through increased adult accountability. Would gun owners be better off under this? — The bill imposes criminal liability and potential imprisonment on adults for how they store or provide firearms if a juvenile gains access.
- 6/23/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia