Legislators on Tuesday huddled to try to reconcile two versions of a bill about how to safely store the guns of people accused of domestic abuse.
A conference committee on the fee bill, H.735, must hammer out a number of differences in the two versions, including a section on firearms storage.
The conference committee met Tuesday morning but came to no conclusions. It plans to meet again at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn said Tuesday that the Senate version essentially codifies existing practice.
The fee bill, typically routine, this year has become controversial because of that section, which is a compromise between anti-domestic violence and gun ownership advocates.
Reps. James Masland, Alison Clarkson and Kesha Ram and Sens. Mark MacDonald, Christopher Bray and Eldred French make up the committee.
Masland on Tuesday in a discussion with Flynn suggested a two-year check-in to see how the program is operating. Flynn said that would be a good idea.
Currently, people ordered not to possess firearms as a result of a relief from abuse order may store them with friends. The Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence has said that is a dangerous option that can lead to them finding their way back to the alleged abusers.
The House version does not allow that option but the Senate version does, as long as the third party signs an affidavit agreeing to keep the firearms away from the alleged abuser.
“As far as actual practice, that has been kind of a current practice, the Uncle Joe scenario,” Flynn said.
The third-party system works only if the third party keeps his or her promise, Flynn said. Gun owners have little incentive to pay a fee to store their weapons with police if they could give them to a friend or relative free, he said.
“You have to wonder what the incentive will be in all cases to actually turn them over to law enforcement,” Flynn said.
