Many states have laws intended to keep kids away from guns
Many states have adopted laws that make it a crime for adult gun owners to allow children to access or possess their firearms, particularly when they are used to injure. In some cases, these laws are intended to reduce violent crime among youths.
At least 21 states and the District of Columbia have child-access laws that deal with negligent storage of firearms. Here are the details for those states:
— California: It is a crime to allow a child to gain access to a loaded handgun that he or she then carries to a public place, brandishes in a threatening manner or uses to injure someone. Penalties are greater if someone dies or suffers serious injury as a result of the child’s access.
— Colorado: A person commits a felony if he or she intentionally, knowingly or recklessly provides a handgun to any person under age 18.