S 2313 New Jersey Senate · 2026-2027 Regular Session

Establishes strict liability criminal penalties for minor's access to loaded firearm if access results in bodily injury or death.

This bill, S 2313, updates New Jersey law to impose criminal penalties when a minor (defined as under age 18) accesses a poorly stored loaded firearm at a premises controlled by an adult, resulting in injury or death. It requires adults to store firearms unloaded in locked containers, secure locations, or with trigger locks to avoid liability; failure to do so becomes a criminal offense only if harm occurs. Penalties escalate based on outcomes: third-degree crime (up to 5 years) for bodily injury, second-degree (5-10 years) for serious injury, and first-degree (10-20 years) for death. The law maintains existing storage defenses but shifts from disorderly persons offenses to criminal charges when harm results, with strict liability (no need to prove negligence) for the adult responsible for the firearm's storage.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Last action Jan 13, 2026
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Jan 13, 2026
Introduced
Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

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Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of John McKeon
John McKeon
DDemocratic
NJ
27