Holding Gun Owners Accountable for Unintentional Shootings by Children: Implementation of Michigan’s Firearm Storage Law

• In Event: Exploring the Role of Contextual, Legal, and Political Factors Influencing Gun Violence

Abstract

Researchers estimate that 4.6 million children in the US live in households with at least one loaded and unlocked firearm. In February 2024, a firearm storage law took effect in Michigan that provides prosecutors with a criminal statute to hold adults accountable if a child accesses an unsecured firearm. This study sought to assess the prosecutorial decisions in cases of unintentional shootings by children 17 and younger in Michigan after the implementation of the state’s law. Shootings from 2/13/2024 to 1/31/2025 were extracted from Everytown’s #NotAnAccident Index and prosecution decisions were obtained from online media reports. Of the 25 unintentional shootings that occurred after the law went into effect, someone was charged under the safe storage statute in 15 (60%) incidents, shooters were charged with other offenses in 3 (12%) incidents, and charges were unknown in 7 (28%) incidents. A total of 20 people were charged under the storage statute related to 15 shootings. Shootings occurred in 11 counties. Nine of the 25 shootings occurred in Wayne County. Among them, someone was charged under the storage statute in 5 (56%). Early implementation suggests most prosecutors are utilizing the new law to hold adults accountable.

Author

• Ashley D. Cannon, Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund