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HR4965FEDERALin_committee
High Impact

Kimberly Vaughan Firearm Safe Storage Act

August 12, 2025

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Where This Stands

Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Signed

Currently in_committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Last action
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.Jul 27, 2023

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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The Frame

What this does

This bill would mandate new safety disclosures for all new firearm sales and provide $100 million in federal funding over ten years to local governments for the distribution of gun storage devices.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Firearm manufacturers and importers

Must include specific written safety notices with all new handguns, rifles, and shotguns starting January 1, 2025.

State, local, and tribal governments

Eligible to apply for federal grants to fund the purchase and distribution of safe storage devices.

Nonprofit organizations

May receive up to 25% of grant funds through partnerships with local governments to distribute storage devices.

What changed

Current stage: in_committee.

What's next

Floor Vote.

Summary

This bill directs the Attorney General to create national best practices for safe firearm storage and requires manufacturers to include safety information with new firearms. It also establishes a $10 million annual grant program to help state, local, and tribal governments distribute safe storage devices like gun locks and safes.

Why It Matters

This bill would mandate new safety disclosures for all new firearm sales and provide $100 million in federal funding over ten years to local governments for the distribution of gun storage devices.

Key Facts

  • Authorizes $10,000,000 in annual appropriations for fiscal years 2024 through 2034 for safe storage grant programs.
  • Requires the Attorney General to establish voluntary safe storage best practices within 180 days of enactment.
  • Mandates that licensed firearm manufacturers and importers provide a 'SAFE STORAGE SAVES LIVES' notice with every handgun, rifle, or shotgun sold, starting January 1, 2025.
  • Expands existing federal requirements for safe storage devices to include rifles and shotguns, not just handguns.
  • Requires the Attorney General to publish best practices in print and online within one year of enactment and update them annually.
  • Limits grant recipients to using at least 75% of funds for local storage assistance programs and allows up to 25% for partnerships with nonprofits.
  • Prohibits grant recipients from reporting personally identifying information of individuals who receive storage devices.
  • Requires the Attorney General to submit annual reports to Congress on grant distribution and program outcomes starting 13 months after the first awards.
  • Defines a 'safe firearm storage device' as one secured by a combination, key, or biometric lock.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this bill require me to store my guns in a specific way?
No. The bill directs the Attorney General to create 'voluntary' best practices for public education, not federal mandates for private gun owners.
Will I be able to get a free gun lock or safe through this program?
The bill provides funding to state, local, and tribal governments to create programs that acquire and distribute these devices to the public, though availability would depend on your local government's participation.
What information will the government collect if I receive a storage device?
The bill explicitly prohibits grant recipients from reporting any personally identifying information about individuals who receive storage devices.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Expansion of Safety Requirements

The bill expands existing federal safety device requirements from handguns only to include rifles and shotguns.

Connected Entities

organizationAttorney GeneralResponsible for establishing best practices, reporting, and managing the grant pMap →
personSheila Jackson LeePrimary sponsor of the bill in the House of RepresentativesMap →

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy60
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz30
    Current news / social attention level

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