Sec. 7. Restore right of self defense in the home
418 words·~2 min read·
/bill/113/hr/3689/ih/section-7A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
Section 702 of the Firearms Control Regulations Act of 1975 (sec. 7–2507.02, D.C. Official Code) is amended to read as follows: A person in the District of Columbia is guilty of unlawful storage of a firearm if— the person knowingly stores or leaves a loaded firearm at any premises under the person’s control; the person knows or reasonably should know that a minor is likely to gain access to the firearm without the permission of the minor’s parent or legal guardian; and the minor kills or injures any person (including the minor) by discharging the firearm.
This section does not apply if— the firearm was stored in a securely locked container and the person did not inform the minor of the location of the key to, or the combination of, the container’s lock; the firearm was secured by a trigger lock and the person did not inform the minor of the location of the key to, or the combination of, the trigger lock; the firearm was stored on the person’s body or in such proximity to the person that it could be used as quickly and as easily as if it were on the person’s body; the minor’s access to the firearm was a result of an unlawful entry; when discharging the firearm, the minor was acting in lawful self-defense or in defense of another; when discharging the firearm, the minor was engaged in hunting or target or sport shooting under the supervision of the minor’s parent or guardian, or under the supervision of another person over the age of 18 with the parent’s or guardian’s consent; or the firearm is in the possession or control of a law enforcement officer while the officer is engaged in official duties.
In this section, the term minor means an individual under 16 years of age. A person who violates this section shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000, a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both. If a violation of this section leads to the accidental shooting of a minor who is the child of the person who committed the violation, the United States attorney shall consider both the extent of the minor’s injuries and the effect of the minor’s injury or death on both of the minor’s parents when deciding whether to file charges under this section.
No prosecution shall be brought in such circumstances unless the person who committed the violation behaved in a grossly negligent manner, or unless similarly egregious circumstances exist. .