H 7145Non-Violent Crime Penalties

Criminal Offenses - Weapons

This bill requires gun owners to lock up firearms when not in use and establishes penalties for unsafe storage.

Introduced61 Yea7 Nay7 Not voting

Population
Affected

Introduced Jan 16, 2026Committee House Judiciary

Plain-English Summary

This legislation, cited as "Dillon's Law," amends Rhode Island's weapons laws regarding firearm storage. It mandates that firearms must be stored in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant lock unless they are being carried by or are within close proximity to an authorized user. The bill establishes civil fines for initial violations and criminal penalties for repeat offenses. It also creates specific criminal charges (Criminal Storage in the first and second degrees) if a child or prohibited person gains access to an unsecured firearm, particularly if that access leads to injury or the commission of a crime.

For younger readers

This new rule is called "Dillon's Law." It says that adults who own guns must keep them locked up safely so that children or people who aren't allowed to have them cannot touch them. If a gun owner leaves a gun out where a child finds it, the owner can get in trouble and have to pay money to the government. If someone gets hurt because the gun wasn't locked up, the owner could go to jail. The law is meant to keep families safe from accidents.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Gun ownersParentsChildrenFirearm retailersLaw enforcement

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

Moderate risk

Moderate Risk. The Supreme Court's decision in *District of Columbia v. Heller* struck down trigger-lock requirements that rendered firearms inoperable for immediate self-defense. However, this bill includes an exception for firearms "carried by or... in proximity to" the user. Courts generally uphold storage laws with such exceptions. Fourth Amendment concerns regarding how the state enforces this inside a home without a warrant remain a potential area of friction, though the text explicitly mentions lawful warrants are required.

Estimated cost

Amount unknown

Estimated revenue

Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Enhances community safety by mandating secure storage, which is proven to reduce accidental shootings involving children and decrease suicide rates by limiting immediate access to lethal means.
Protects vulnerable populations, specifically children, by imposing strict liability and criminal penalties on gun owners who negligently allow minors to access unsecured firearms.
Promotes a culture of responsibility and systemic reform regarding firearm ownership, treating guns as dangerous instruments that require regulation for the public good rather than unrestricted property.
Imposes financial penalties and potential incarceration, which historically impacts low-income communities and people of color disproportionately, potentially expanding the reach of the carceral state.
The reliance on fines creates a regressive punishment structure where wealthier gun owners can afford to pay for non-compliance, while poorer owners face significant financial hardship.
Enforcement mechanisms may lead to increased police interaction and surveillance of private homes, raising concerns about civil liberties and privacy for marginalized groups.

For Conservatives

Explicitly codifies that the law shall not be construed to reduce or limit the existing right to purchase and own firearms and ammunition, affirming Second Amendment principles within the text.
Includes specific protections for parents against prosecution in the tragic event of an accidental death of their child, unless they acted with "gross negligence," limiting government overreach in times of family grief.
Protects the right to self-defense by including clear exceptions for firearms that are being carried by or are in proximity to the authorized user, ensuring immediate access is not criminalized.
Infringes upon the personal freedom of law-abiding citizens to decide how best to secure their own property within the privacy of their own homes, imposing a "one-size-fits-all" government mandate.
Creates a financial barrier to exercising a Constitutional right by effectively mandating the purchase of specific safety devices or safes, which functions as a tax on self-defense.
Opens the door for government overreach and potential violations of due process and privacy, as enforcing storage laws often requires investigating the interior of private residences.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 3 additions · 1 deletion

SECTION 1. Section 11-47-60.1 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-47 entitled "Weapons" is hereby amended to read as follows: 11-47-60.1. ~~Safe storage — Unsafe storage of a firearm.~~ Safe storage – Unsafe storage of a firearm – Dillon's Law.

(a) Nothing in this section shall be construed to reduce or limit any existing right to purchase and own firearms and/or ammunition or to provide authority to any state or local agency to infringe upon the privacy of any family, home or business except by lawful warrant.

(b) A person who stores or leaves a firearm in any place is guilty of the violation of unsafe storage of a firearm unless the firearm is secured in a locked container or equipped with a tamper- resistant mechanical lock or other safety device, properly engaged in order to render such firearm inoperable by any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user. This section does not apply to a firearm that is being carried by or can be readily carried by a lawfully authorized user who is in proximity to the firearm. Any violation of this subsection shall result in, for a first offense, a civil infraction punishable by a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250), and for a second offense, a civil infraction punishable by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000). A third or subsequent violation of this subsection shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment for no more than six (6) months, or a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500), or both.

(c) A person who stores or leaves on premises under their control a firearm and who knows or reasonably should know that a child is likely to gain access to the firearm without the permission of the child’s parent or guardian, or who knows or reasonably should know that a person who is prohibited, under state or federal law, from purchasing or possessing firearms is likely to gain access to the firearm, is guilty of criminal storage of a firearm in the second degree if a child or person who is prohibited, under state or federal law, from purchasing or possessing firearms obtains access to the firearm. Any person who violates this section shall, upon conviction, be punished by imprisonment for no more than one year, or be fined not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) or both. For purposes of this section, a “child” is defined as any person who has not attained the age of eighteen (18) years.

(d) A person is guilty of criminal storage of a firearm in the first degree if they commit the crime of criminal storage in the second degree and the firearm obtained by a child or a person who is prohibited, under state or federal law, from purchasing or possessing firearms is used by said person in the commission of a crime or to cause injury to himself or herself or any other person. Any violation of this subsection shall, upon conviction, be punishable by imprisonment for not more than five (5) years, or a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both.

(e) The provisions of subsections (c) and (d) of this section shall not apply whenever any of the following occurs:

(1) The child or person who is prohibited, under state or federal law, from purchasing or possessing firearms obtains the firearm as a result of an illegal entry of any premises by any person or an illegal taking of the firearm from the premises of the owner without permission of the owner;

(2) The firearm is secured in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock or other safety device, properly engaged in order to render such firearm inoperable by any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user;

(3) The firearm is being carried by or can be readily carried by a lawfully authorized user who is in proximity to the firearm; or

(4) [Deleted by P.L. 2024, ch. 107, § 1 and P.L. 2024, ch. 108, § 1.]

(5) The child or person who is prohibited, under state or federal law, from purchasing or possessing firearms obtains or obtains and discharges the firearm in a lawful act of self-defense or defense of another person.

(6) [Deleted by P.L. 2024, ch. 107, § 1 and P.L. 2024, ch. 108, § 1.] (f)(1) If the person who allegedly violated this section is the parent or guardian of a child who is injured or who dies as the result of an accidental shooting, the attorney general shall consider among other factors, the impact of the injury or death on the person who has allegedly violated this section when deciding whether to prosecute an alleged violation.

(2) It is the intent of the general assembly that a parent or guardian of a child who is injured or who dies of an accidental shooting shall be prosecuted only in those instances in which the parent or guardian behaved in a grossly negligent manner.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.