Governor Newsom Signs Bill Giving Californians a Safe Place to Store Firearms During a Crisis

SACRAMENTO - Governor Gavin Newsom today signed Assemblymember Catherine Stefani's AB 1974, giving law enforcement agencies across California a framework to offer voluntary, temporary firearm storage when someone needs to get a gun safely out of the home.
The legislation was inspired by nine-year-old Pierce, who was killed by his father during a custody dispute.

AB 1974 creates statewide guidelines for police and sheriff's departments to offer temporary firearm storage to the public. The program gives Californians a safe place to store a firearm outside the home during a crisis, helping create distance from a gun when it matters most and prevent a dangerous moment from becoming a tragedy.

"Safe storage of firearms saves lives. AB 1974 gives local police departments a framework to implement effective programs, educate gun owners, and reduce preventable tragedies in homes across California," said Assemblymember Catherine Stefani. "I am grateful to Governor Newsom for signing this bill and to GIFFORDS and Pierce's Pledge for working with me to develop safer firearm storage in California."

Currently, California has no statewide guidance for law enforcement agencies that want to offer voluntary, temporary firearm storage. The San Francisco Police Department has helped fill that gap locally by providing free temporary storage to residents. AB 1974 builds on that model by establishing statewide guidelines for police and sheriff's departments to provide a safe place for people to store a firearm outside the home during a crisis.

"Safe storage is a cornerstone of responsible gun ownership, and preventing unauthorized access to firearms saves lives," said GIFFORDS State Policy Attorney Ethan Murray. "Whether it's a loved one going through a difficult time or a personal crisis, AB 1974 enables law enforcement to step up for their community and provide a safe, secure alternative to keeping the firearm at home. We are grateful to our partners at Pierce's Pledge for spearheading the blueprint for this bill in San Francisco, and to Asm. Stefani for setting up a program that other jurisdictions can adopt."

"My nine-year-old son, Pierce, was murdered with a firearm by his father - my ex-husband - during a custody dispute. That happens far too often in America. I did not know I was in a critical moment. I simply forgot to ask about the firearm, and no one reminded me. Sometimes it is simply safer to have the firearm out of the home than in it. Each of us has the power to intervene. We just need to recognize a critical moment - for ourselves or for someone else - find the courage to ask the question and then offer a way to get the gun out of the house, to create distance and safety," said Lesley Hu, unwilling founder of Pierce's Pledge and mother of Pierce Howard Hu.

"AB 1974 is that resource: a safe, consistent place for any Californian to temporarily store a firearm in a moment of crisis at a police or sheriff station. Signing this law today sends a message to every child - that after five years of gun violence leading the cause of death for those eighteen and under, we are doing something about it."

"Securely stored firearms save lives," San Francisco Police Chief Derrick Lew said. "SFPD is honored to have partnered with our community to implement the Pierce's Pledge Gun Safety Storage Program at every police district station in San Francisco a year ago. I want to thank Assemblymember Catherine Stefani for advancing this important issue in the state legislature."

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