H.R. 9399

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9399 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9399

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for criminal 
penalties for a person who provides fire arms to juveniles if such 
firearms are thereafter used for the commission of a criminal offense.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 23, 2026

Mr. Casten (for himself and Ms. Norton) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for criminal 
penalties for a person who provides fire arms to juveniles if such 
firearms are thereafter used for the commission of a criminal offense.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Juvenile Firearms Safety Act of 
2026''.

SEC. 2. UNLAWFUL ACTS.

Section 922 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end the following:
``(aa)(1) It shall be unlawful for a person who is 18 years of age 
or older to--
``(A) knowingly provide a firearm, other than a 
handgun, to a juvenile (as such term is defined in 
subsection (x)(5)), knowing or having reasonable cause 
to believe that the juvenile intends to use such 
firearm for self-harm or in the commission of a crime; 
or
``(B) knowingly store or keep any firearm that has 
moved in, or that has otherwise affected, interstate or 
foreign commerce on the premises of a residence, 
vehicle, or facility under the control of the person 
if--
``(i) the person knows, or reasonably 
should know, that a juvenile is likely to gain 
unauthorized access to the firearm; and
``(ii) a juvenile obtains the firearm and 
uses the firearm in the commission of a crime 
or causes injury or death to such juvenile, or 
any other individual.
``(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1) a fact finder may 
consider other relevant factors, including if the person--
``(A) has received outreach about concerns about 
the juvenile's mental health from the juvenile, the 
juvenile's parent or guardian, other parents, school 
administration, law enforcement, medical professionals, 
or other adults;
``(B) has knowledge of prior acts of violence 
against others by the juvenile; or
``(C) has knowledge of suicidality on the part of 
the juvenile, including previous acts of self harm.
``(3) Paragraph (1)(B) does not apply to a person if the 
person--
``(A) keeps the firearm--
``(i) secure using a secure gun storage or 
safety device; or
``(ii) in a location which a reasonable 
person would believe to be secure; or
``(B) carries the firearm on his or her person or 
within such close proximity thereto that the person can 
readily retrieve and use the firearm as if the person 
carried the firearm on his or her person.
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to prevent a 
juvenile from engaging in lawful activities involving the use 
of a firearm, with the permission of the parent or guardian of 
the juvenile. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to 
affect any existing law related to consequences of a minor 
providing a firearm to another minor or to affect any existing 
law related to an adult's responsibility for a crime committed 
by a third party minor who did not access the adult's weapon 
directly.''.

SEC. 3. PENALTIES.

Section 924(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
``(9) Whoever knowingly violates subsection (aa) of section 
922--
``(A) shall be fined under this title, imprisoned 
for not more than 1 year, or both;
``(B) if the firearm is used in the commission of a 
crime, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for 
not more than 2 years, or both;
``(C) if the juvenile obtains the firearm pursuant 
to a violation of (aa)(1)(B), and the juvenile causes 
injury or death to such juvenile, or any other 
individual, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned 
for not more than 5 years, or both; or
``(D) if a person provides the juvenile with the 
firearm in violation of (aa)(1)(A), and the juvenile 
causes injury or death to such juvenile, or any other 
individual, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned 
for not more than 10 years, or both.''.
<all>