Lawmakers in New York's capital city voted to approve legislation requiring Albany gun owners to secure their firearms in a safe or with a trigger lock whenever the weapon is out of their "immediate possession or control."
The Times Union of Albany reports (http://bit.ly/1L6DTwc ) the law, passed in a 14-1 vote Wednesday, will go into effect Jan. 1.
A first offense is punishable by up to a $250 fine or 15 days in prison. A second offense, or any incident resulting in injury or death, will be considered a misdemeanor crime that carries a penalty of a $1,000 fine and up to a year behind bars.
Seventh Ward Councilwoman Cathy Fahey, sponsor of the bill, called it "common sense" to hold adults accountable for firearms that are not properly stored.
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