Storage of firearms

Storage of firearms. A firearm owner shall not store or keep any firearm in any premises where the firearm owner knows or reasonably should know a minor without the lawful permission of the minor's parent, guardian, or person having charge of the minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person is likely to gain access to the firearm unless the firearm is secured in a locked container, properly engaged so as to render the firearm inaccessible or unusable to any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user. If the firearm is carried by or under the control of the owner or other lawfully authorized user, then the firearm is deemed lawfully stored or kept. This Section does not apply (i) if the minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person gains access to a firearm and uses it in a lawful act of self-defense or defense of another or (ii) to any firearm obtained by a minor, an at-risk person, or a prohibited person because of an unlawful entry of the premises by the minor, at-risk person, prohibited person or another person.(Source: P.A. 104-31, eff. 1-1-26.)