Bill Would Add Criminal Charge for Leaving Unsecured Gun Accessible to Children

Proposed legislation in Maryland aims to stiffen penalties for adults who fail to properly store firearms around minors.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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A bill under consideration in the Maryland legislature would establish criminal penalties of up to five years in jail and/or a $1,000 fine for adults who store or leave a loaded firearm somewhere that an unsupervised minor can access it. The bill, known as The Ny'Kayla Strawder Act, is named after a 15-year-old girl who was shot and killed in 2022 by a 9-year-old boy who found a gun in his grandmother's closet.

Why it matters

The proposed legislation aims to address a gap in current Maryland law, which only imposes a $1,000 fine for leaving a loaded gun accessible to a child. Supporters argue that the new criminal penalties would provide more "teeth" to hold adults accountable and promote proper firearm storage, especially in homes with children present.

The details

Under the bill, adults could face up to five years in jail and/or a $1,000 fine if they store or leave a loaded firearm somewhere that they knew or should have known an unsupervised minor could access it. The legislation is named after Ny'Kayla Strawder, a 15-year-old girl who was shot and killed in 2022 by a 9-year-old boy who found a gun in his grandmother's closet. The boy's grandmother was later sentenced to three years in prison for reckless endangerment.

  • The bill is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee.
  • Similar legislation drafted last year failed to advance from a Senate committee.

The players

Senate Bill 362

Also known as The Ny'Kayla Strawder Act, the proposed legislation would establish criminal penalties for adults who fail to properly secure firearms around minors.

Anne Arundel County State's Attorney Anne Colt Leitess

Supports the legislation, arguing that current law has "no teeth" and that the new criminal penalties would help hold adults accountable for firearm storage.

Second Amendment Maryland

A gun rights advocacy group that opposes the bill, arguing that a five-year penalty does not promote firearms safety and that existing statutes are sufficient.

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What they’re saying

“Current law has no teeth. It's supposed to be locked, kept away from children, kept safe. If you're in your own home, you don't have children around, these same rules don't apply. But when you have a child, you're supposed to take extra precautions.”

— Anne Colt Leitess, Anne Arundel County State's Attorney (wbal.com)

“Sometimes, we have a charge, like reckless endangerment or perhaps even involuntary manslaughter, but you have to prove that someone had an intent to be reckless or did something so grossly negligent that they should be held liable under the current law for a firearm access to a minor.”

— Anne Colt Leitess, Anne Arundel County State's Attorney (wbal.com)

What’s next

The bill is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday before the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. If passed, the legislation would establish new criminal penalties for adults who fail to properly secure firearms around minors.

The takeaway

This proposed legislation aims to close a gap in current Maryland law by imposing stronger criminal penalties on adults who allow unsupervised minors to access loaded firearms. Supporters argue that the new charges would provide more accountability and encourage better firearm storage practices, especially in homes with children present.