Three North Carolina lawmakers introduced legislation that would hold gunowners accountable for shooting-related crimes committed with guns that were lost by or stolen from them.
According to filings by the North Carolina State Senate, NC Senators Val Applewhite (D-Cumberland), Woodson Bradley (D-Mecklenburg) and Caleb Theodros (D-Mecklenburg) introduced S.B. 161, which, if passed, would be known as the Jenesis Firearm Accountability Act.
“This is not just about accountability, it’s also a safety,” Applewhite said. “It’s not a complicated goal, we just want more people to live like Jenesis.”
The bill is named after Jenesis Dockery, who detectives say was shot and killed in 2023 by an 11-year-old boy at Dockery’s babysitter’s home. Presently, the boy is accused of manslaughter.
“Her name being on it is impactful enough for our family, but knowing the safety that this is going to bring to our state is incredible,” said Fon Dockery, Jenesis’ father.
The bill proposes stiffer penalties for adults who do not report the loss or theft of stolen firearms and would require residents to report the weapon or weapons lost or stolen within 48 hours.
According to the bill, if the stolen gun is used to commit a felony or misdemeanor, the person who failed to report it missing or stolen would be charged with the same crimes as the suspect unless the gun’s owner could prove in court a “reasonable inability” to comply with the law.
“I thought about law enforcement because what law-enforcement agency would not want to know there are weapons on the street with ammunition,” Applewhite said.
The bill was filed on Feb. 25, just days before a grandmother in Henderson said her 5-year-old granddaughter was killed by another child who was playing with a gun outside.
Both Dockery and Applewhite told WRAL News they wanted to be clear that the goal of the bill is not to infringe on anyone’s Second Amendment rights, calling the legislation “common sense.” The two believe reporting lost or stolen weapons would lead to fewer accidents and less crime as well as save lives.
“We believe that this is going to help law enforcement agencies across the state,” he said. “We believe that the police departments and sheriff’s offices are going to want to know that these firearms are on the street.”
There are some exemptions to the strictest part of the law. If the gun owner reports the weapon stolen or missing within the first 48 hours, they would have immunity from any criminal or civil liability tied to any crimes committed with the weapon.
“All we are saying is that if you have weapons — 10, 100, whatever it is — if they’re removed from or stolen from your home, you report it,” Applewhite said.
In the documentary UnSafe, WRAL News estimated 1.7 million homes in North Carolina had guns, and at least 50% of them have guns that aren’t safely stored.
S.B. 161 passed its initial reading in the NC Senate and is now in committee.
Gun safety resources
Learn about how to store your firearms safely at home and on the go,
how to talk to your children about gun safety and how to make sure that
schools and playdates are a safe environment from NC S.A.F.E.
Download a free gun safety kit or request a free gun lock from Project Child Safe.
The Durham County Gun Safety Program also offers outreach events, best safety practices and free gun locks on request.
