New York Passes Francesco’s Law to Mandate Safe Gun Storage
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed Francesco’s Law into effect, establishing a statewide requirement for all gun owners to securely store firearms when not in use.
Expanding Safe Storage Mandates Across New York
Prior to the new statute, New York law only penalized gun owners for unsecured weapons if they lived with a minor under 16, a convicted felon, or an individual legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. The updated policy applies the storage requirement to every gun owner statewide, regardless of household composition.
The legislation also tasks the state Office of Gun Violence Prevention with collecting and analyzing data regarding minors who are injured or killed by unsecured firearms.
Francesco's Death Highlights Rising Youth Firearm Suicides
The statute is named after Francesco, a 17-year-old New York resident who died by firearm suicide in October 2021 using an unsecured shotgun after experiencing school bullying due to his sexual orientation.
National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show that firearm suicides reached an all-time high for the fourth consecutive year in 2024. Firearms killed 2,214 young people aged 1 to 17 that year, with suicides making up 31 percent of those fatalities. Guns have remained the leading cause of death for this age group for five straight years.
On the fifth anniversary of 17-year-old Francesco’s death, New York tightened its gun safety laws with new requirements aimed at keeping firearms locked up and ammunition out of the hands of people barred from having guns.More:https://t.co/qdXXMqe9Y9
Safe Storage Mandates Reduce Youth Suicide Rates
Faculty research from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions indicates that safe storage mandates reduce firearm suicide rates across populations, including among children. A 2025 study cited by the Center found that child access prevention laws lowered youth suicide rates by up to 14 percent for ages 1 to 17.
Francesco’s Law will help save lives. Unauthorized access to firearms presents deadly risks, whether by a minor or an individual of any age who may be experiencing a moment of crisis. Establishing the same requirements of every gun owner helps the practice of safe storage become second-nature, just like the act of buckling one’s seatbelt.
That assessment comes from Emily Walsh, law and policy advisor at the Center. Mudia Uzzi, Bloomberg Assistant Professor of American Health at the Center, noted that the data demonstrates safe storage as a direct method to protect vulnerable youth.