Child Safety Lock Act of 2003

This bill would require licensed gun manufacturers, importers, and dealers to provide a secure locking device and specific safety warnings whenever they sell or transfer a handgun to a private citizen. It directs the Attorney General to establish federal safety standards for these locks to ensure they are effective at preventing children under the age of 18 from accidentally discharging a firearm.

For everyday citizens, this means that any new handgun purchased from a licensed dealer would come equipped with a verified safety lock, such as a trigger lock. The legislation also authorizes the government to recall defective locking devices and uses a portion of existing firearms tax revenue to fund public education programs focused on the safe storage and use of firearms. Dealers who fail to provide these safety devices could face civil penalties, including fines or the loss of their federal firearms license.