Ohio Lawmaker Proposes ‘Amya’s Law’ After 11-Year-Old’s Shooting Death
Rep. Darnell Brewer introduces “Amya’s Law” to penalize gun owners after 11-year-old was killed by cousin with unsecured firearm.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — State Representative Darnell T. Brewer is introducing legislation to hold gun owners criminally responsible when children access unsecured firearms and cause harm, following the December shooting death of 11-year-old Amya Frazier.
The Cleveland Democrat announced “Amya’s Law” during a press conference, naming the bill after the young girl who was killed by her 14-year-old cousin on December 5, 2025. Amya had gone to her cousin’s house to play a video game when the teenager picked up his father’s unsecured gun.
“Her cousin grabbed his father’s gun and decided to play with it due to his father’s negligence of leaving his gun lying around,” said Hope Frazier, Amya’s mother, during the press conference. “His child grabbed it and shot my 11-year-old daughter in the head and ended her life.”
Proposed Penalties for Neglectful Storage
Under Brewer’s proposed legislation, gun owners would face criminal charges when minors gain access to improperly stored firearms. The bill establishes a fourth-degree felony charge if a child accesses a neglectfully stored firearm and causes serious harm, while a first-degree misdemeanor would apply in other cases of unauthorized minor access.
“This bill does not create a storage mandate,” Brewer explained. “It does not restrict lawful self defense. It does not penalize gun ownership. Instead, it imposes accountability only when a minor gains access to a neglectfully stored firearm and harm results.”
Mother Advocates for Safe Storage
Amya Frazier died on December 8, 2025, three days after the shooting incident. Her mother has become an advocate for proper firearm storage, speaking out about the responsibility gun owners have to protect children.
“It is our responsibility as adults to store our guns correctly, place them in a safe place, and unloaded,” Hope Frazier said. “Place the ammunition elsewhere, hidden so children can’t find it. Place the clip out of the gun.”
The proposed legislation comes as Ohio continues to grapple with incidents involving unsecured firearms and children. Brewer’s bill aims to prevent similar tragedies by establishing legal consequences for gun owners who fail to properly secure their weapons from minors.
