A question criminal defense attorney Tom Grieve gets a lot is, “What are the laws regarding firearms storage in my home?” While there is no hard and fast rule — laws vary by place and time — Tom covers the basics of safe and legal gun storage in this week’s “Ask an Attorney.”

General Rules for Lawfully Storing Firearms

Generally speaking, firearms should be inaccessible to children (that means anyone under the age of 18), so keep that in mind when you’re choosing a place to stash your gun. If a kid stumbles upon it, that’s a dangerous situation — and you may be on the hook for a felony.

Also, keep in mind that there may be disassembly laws in your area. There could also be trigger lock or storage laws. Another general rule: Keep firearms stored unloaded and encased. Some jurisdictions also require that ammo be stored separately. Staging a firearm for home defense, of course, requires different procedures, but keep the same general safety rules in mind.

About Tom Grieve

Attorney Tom Grieve is one of the most respected criminal-defense lawyers in Wisconsin. A highly awarded former prosecutor, he started Grieve Law, LLC, which is one of the top criminal-defense firms in the state. He developed a nuanced knowledge of Wisconsin firearms law. Tom has also received his certification as a firearms instructor and participates as a speaker and panelist with the USCCA for live broadcasts, national expos and training videos. He is even serving as a speaker and analyst on numerous TV and radio stations as well as college and law school campuses.

 The information contained on this website is provided as a service to USCCA, Inc. Members and the concealed carry community and does not constitute legal advice. Although we attempt to address all areas of concealed carry laws in all states, we make no claims, representations, warranties, promises or guarantees as to the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information disclosed. Legal advice must always be tailored to the individual facts and circumstances of each individual case. Laws are constantly changing, and, as such, nothing contained on this website should be used as a substitute for the advice of a lawyer for a specific case.