Committee advances narrow safe-storage bill after hours of testimony from families, prosecutors and gun groups

The House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee on March 4 advanced HB80, a bill that would make certain instances of unsafe gun storage a criminal offense when a minor obtains a loaded firearm and unlawfully uses it.

Sponsor Representative Stoddard said the bill is modeled on existing Florida law and is narrowly targeted: four elements must be met for criminal charges — an adult stored a loaded firearm without required security; the adult knew or should have known a minor under 16 could access it; the minor obtained the firearm and violated the statute for possession by a minor; and the minor exhibited or used the firearm unlawfully in public or in a fight. Stoddard and supporting witnesses emphasized that accidental shootings or suicides without unlawful use would not, under the sponsor's reading, meet the statute's elements.

Public testimony drew both strong support and opposition. Community-organizer Steve Williams and pediatric emergency physician Hillary Hughes described real-life harms from unsecured guns and urged the committee to vote yes. The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office and several prosecutors backed the bill as a tool to hold responsible adults whose storage practices facilitate serious crimes. Linda Smith of the League of Women Voters called it a public-health measure to establish safer norms for firearm storage.

Gun rights and shooting-sport groups opposed the bill. Clark (Caposian/Aboshen), chair of the Utah Shooting Sports Council, said HB80 shifts the traditional criminal burden by creating an affirmative defense that requires owners to prove compliance; he also said the bill duplicates existing child-neglect and negligent-handling statutes and could criminalize many lawful owners in reactive enforcement scenarios. Women for Gun Rights and the Utah Sportsman's Advisory Council urged a no vote, citing concerns about home privacy and self-defense.

Committee members debated those policy trade-offs. Sponsor and supporters said enforcement would be reactive — occurring only after unlawful access and use — and the affirmative defense is intended to protect responsible owners who took reasonable precautions. Opponents noted practical issues such as response times for home defense and training or cultural differences in rural areas.

Representative Hollins moved and the committee voted to send HB80 to the House floor with a favorable recommendation; the committee recorded a 9–2 vote in favor.