A1962, known as "Francesco's Law," introduces tougher rules for the safe storage of guns. If someone storing a firearm—such as a rifle, shotgun, or handgun—knows a minor (under 18) or a prohibited person could access it and they do, it's a crime. The bill categorizes offenses by severity: A regular failure is a violation, a repeat offense is a class B misdemeanor, reckless storage is a class D felony, and causing death is a class C felony. It also requires offenders to receive safe-storage materials and mandates that the state's Office of Gun Violence Prevention include data on child injuries or deaths from unsafe storage in their annual report.
The New York State Assembly passed A1962 on June 11, 2025 by a vote of 93 to 46. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the fundamental right of the American people to keep and bear arms is protected by the U.S. Constitution, particularly in the Second, Ninth, and 10th Amendments, and should not be infringed. A1962 is a gross infringement on this right, as it imposes burdensome government mandates on how firearms must be stored in private homes, effectively limiting the ability of law-abiding citizens to access their firearms quickly for self-defense. Additionally, it removes reasonable exemptions and penalizes responsible gun owners with unnecessary regulations, further eroding individual freedoms under the guise of safety.
