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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to creating the criminal offense of failure to safely |
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store a firearm. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 46, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 46.131 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 46.131. FAILURE TO SAFELY STORE FIREARM. (a) In this |
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section: |
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(1) "Readily dischargeable firearm" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 46.13. |
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(2) "Secure firearm storage device" means a gun safe, |
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gun case, gun cabinet, or other device that is similarly designed to |
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be: |
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(A) used to store a firearm; and |
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(B) unlocked only by use of a key or combination |
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or by other similar means. |
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(b) A person commits an offense if the person stores a |
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readily dischargeable firearm owned by the person in a place other |
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than a secure firearm storage device that is locked. |
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(c) An offense under this section is a Class B misdemeanor. |
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(d) If conduct constituting an offense under this section |
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also constitutes an offense under another law, the actor may be |
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prosecuted under this section, the other law, or both. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |