Criminal Law - Child's Access to Firearms - Penalty (Ny'Kala Strawder Act)

SB 1031 (Ny’Kala Strawder Act) makes it a misdemeanor to store or leave a loaded firearm where a person knew or should have known an unsupervised minor could access it. It directly affects parents, guardians, or others responsible for firearm storage who fail to secure weapons safely around children. The law imposes penalties of up to 5 years in prison, a $1,000 fine, or both, while excluding violations from being used as evidence of negligence in civil cases. Exemptions include supervised access by adults, unlawful entry, law enforcement use, or minors with valid firearm safety certificates.