Juvenile Firearms Safety Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9399 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9399

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for criminal penalties for a person who provides fire arms to juveniles if such firearms are thereafter used for the commission of a criminal offense.

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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 23, 2026

Mr. Casten (for himself and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

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A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for criminal penalties for a person who provides fire arms to juveniles if such firearms are thereafter used for the commission of a criminal offense.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Juvenile Firearms Safety Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. UNLAWFUL ACTS.

Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(aa)(1) It shall be unlawful for a person who is 18 years of age or older to-- ``(A) knowingly provide a firearm, other than a handgun, to a juvenile (as such term is defined in subsection (x)(5)), knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the juvenile intends to use such firearm for self-harm or in the commission of a crime; or ``(B) knowingly store or keep any firearm that has moved in, or that has otherwise affected, interstate or foreign commerce on the premises of a residence, vehicle, or facility under the control of the person if-- ``(i) the person knows, or reasonably should know, that a juvenile is likely to gain unauthorized access to the firearm; and ``(ii) a juvenile obtains the firearm and uses the firearm in the commission of a crime or causes injury or death to such juvenile, or any other individual. ``(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) a fact finder may consider other relevant factors, including if the person-- ``(A) has received outreach about concerns about the juvenile's mental health from the juvenile, the juvenile's parent or guardian, other parents, school administration, law enforcement, medical professionals, or other adults; ``(B) has knowledge of prior acts of violence against others by the juvenile; or ``(C) has knowledge of suicidality on the part of the juvenile, including previous acts of self harm. ``(3) Paragraph (1)(B) does not apply to a person if the person-- ``(A) keeps the firearm-- ``(i) secure using a secure gun storage or safety device; or ``(ii) in a location which a reasonable person would believe to be secure; or ``(B) carries the firearm on his or her person or within such close proximity thereto that the person can readily retrieve and use the firearm as if the person carried the firearm on his or her person. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent a juvenile from engaging in lawful activities involving the use of a firearm, with the permission of the parent or guardian of the juvenile. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to affect any existing law related to consequences of a minor providing a firearm to another minor or to affect any existing law related to an adult's responsibility for a crime committed by a third party minor who did not access the adult's weapon directly.''.

SEC. 3. PENALTIES.

Section 924(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(9) Whoever knowingly violates subsection (aa) of section 922-- ``(A) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both; ``(B) if the firearm is used in the commission of a crime, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 2 years, or both; ``(C) if the juvenile obtains the firearm pursuant to a violation of (aa)(1)(B), and the juvenile causes injury or death to such juvenile, or any other individual, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both; or ``(D) if a person provides the juvenile with the firearm in violation of (aa)(1)(A), and the juvenile causes injury or death to such juvenile, or any other individual, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both.''. <all>