Oxford Safe Storage Act Included In Gun Reform Package US House Passed

MICHIGAN — The gun reform package lawmakers passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday included a provision from Michigan Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin that she first introduced after the deadly Oxford school shooting.

Slotkin, a Democrat from Michigan's 8th District (northern Oakland County), first proposed the Safe Guns, Safe Kids Act in December that would require gun owners to safely store their firearms in households with children.

The bill would aim to hold gun owners accountable with up to five years in prison if a child uses their gun to hurt others or commit a crime.

"The idea is simple: gun owners should store firearms safely when children are in the home and should be held responsible if they don’t and someone gets hurt," Slotkin said. "Serious gun owners practice firearm safety when storing, caring for, and firing their weapons. This bill is no different."

The overall package, called the "Protecting Our Kids Act," also includes raising the age to purchase certain guns to 21 and preventing gun trafficking, untraceable firearms, bump stocks and large-capacity magazines.

However, only five House Republicans, including Fred Upton of Michigan, voted in favor of the total package, likely indicating most of the bills will die in the senate.

Representative Lisa McClain, a Republican from Macomb County, voted no on the measure, arguing lawmakers should focus on improving school security and mental health.

"Republicans proposed a bill with real solutions to keep your children safe, the Democrats voted it down," McClain said. "They don’t want solutions. They want to push their anti-gun agenda."