Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Young Kim (CA-40), Mike Levin (CA-49), Mike Lawler (NY-17), and Brendan Boyle (PA-02) introduced the Prevent Family Fire Act to help reduce gun violence, suicide, and accidental shootings by providing a tax credit for retailers to who promote the sale of safe storage devices for firearms.
“Over the past decade, 9 in every 10 youth suicides by gun were with guns in the victim’s home, and roughly one in every three kids lives in a home with guns. As a mother of four and new grandmother, protecting the safety of our kids, our schools, and our communities is personal to me,” said Rep. Kim. “Incentivizing the safe storage of guns protects law abiding citizens’ safe usage of guns while reducing the chance of gun violence, suicide, or accidental shootings. I will always support common sense policies that save lives and keep our communities safe.”
“There is an epidemic of gun violence in this country, and both Democrats and Republicans must come together to enact commonsense reforms to save lives,” said Rep. Levin. “In the past few years and months we’ve faced countless tragedies that have gripped the nation and it’s time we do more to address gun violence. This bill is a strong step we can take to reduce unintentional discharges, suicides, and school shootings by incentivizing the safe storage of firearms. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with my colleague Rep. Lawler, and I will continue to fight every single day to advance legislation that reduces gun violence.”
“As a father who is about to celebrate my daughter’s first birthday, I know first-hand the importance of working to keep our children safe. Too often we hear of tragedies involving accidental firearm discharges impacting children, and an estimated 4.6 million kids live in homes with access to a loaded, unlocked firearm. Encouraging the use of gun safes by providing a tax credit to purchasers will help ensure these preventable tragedies do not occur. That’s why I’m proud to co-sponsor the Prevent Family Fire Act. I firmly believe this legislation will help protect kids and save lives,” said Rep. Lawler.
“With more than 400 million firearms currently circulating in America, there are more guns than people in our country,” said Rep. Boyle. “Congress must seek commonsense strategies to correct this pressing societal issue that continues to tear apart families and communities. The Prevent Family Fire Act will provide a practical incentive to retailers to encourage gun safety, and will hopefully reduce the plague of gun violence that has become too commonplace in many of our cities and neighborhoods.”
The Prevent Family Fire Act would provide a tax credit to retailers for external devices sold in the United States that are designed and marketed to deny unauthorized access to, or render inoperable, a firearm or ammunition, and secured by a combination, key, or biometric lock. The credit is equal to 10 percent of cost at sale, with a maximum credit of $40 per device sold.
Last Congress, Rep. Kim supported the Restoring Hope for Mental Health and Well-Being Act of 2022, which included two initiatives she helped introduce, including:
-
The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act to support community-based youth and young adult suicide prevention efforts; and,
-
The Into the Light for Maternal Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders Act of 2022 to support targeted investments for maternal mental health.
