Welcome to the forum.txkyte wrote:"While storing a loaded firearm, it must be in a place which cannot be accessed by a child under the age of 17, or secured with a trigger lock if there is reason to know that a child under 17 may gain access to the firearm.
I'd caution against paraphrasing, since the words you used above can be construed to have a slightly different meaning.
Here's what the penal code actually says:
PC §46.13. MAKING A FIREARM ACCESSIBLE TO A CHILD.
(a) In this section:
(1) “Child” means a person younger than 17 years of age.
(2) “Readily dischargeable firearm” means a firearm that is loaded with
ammunition, whether or not a round is in the chamber.
(3) “Secure” means to take steps that a reasonable person would take to prevent the access to a readily dischargeable firearm by a child, including but not limited to placing a firearm in a locked container or temporarily rendering the firearm inoperable by a trigger lock or other means
(b) A person commits an offense if a child gains access to a readily dischargeable firearm and the person with criminal negligence:
(1) failed to secure the firearm; or
(2) left the firearm in a place to which the person knew or should have known the child would gain access.
The reason I mention this is that 'storing' isn't in the law, but 'securing' is, and securing is a 24/7 responsibility. As all the others have indicated, if it's not on your person it must be secured. It's up to you (as the reasonable person) to figure out how to prevent the unauthorized access of your guns by those that shouldn't.