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Legislators Revive Federal Ethan’s Law Push

Legislators are once again making the push to make Ethan’s Law a federal law. In a joint statement released by the offices of U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro (D) and U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D) and Chris Murphy (D), legislators have announced that a group of 186 Members of Congress is reintroducing the Connecticut law, a piece of legislation requiring gun owners to safely and securely store their firearms. According to the statement, the law, named after Guilford teenager Ethan Song who tragically lost his life in 2018 by an unsecured gun in a neighbor’s home, would create federal requirements for safe gun storage and establish strong penalties for any violations.

According to the provisions under Ethan’s Law, gun owners would be required to store their firearms in a “secure gun storage or safety device” if a minor is likely to gain access to it without permission or if a resident of the dwelling cannot legally possess a firearm under existing law. The bill also includes incentives for states to pass and enforce their own safe gun storage laws.

Data provided by DeLauro’s office claims an estimated 4.6 million American minors live in a residence with loaded and or unlocked guns leading to the deaths or injury of eight children or teens every day. Ethan’s Law would reduce access to these unsupervised firearms, which are most often used in suicides, school shootings, and other acts of violence.

DeLauro, Blumenthal, and Murphy announced the reintroduction of the legislation in Connecticut earlier this month at an event with Ethan’s parents, Kristin and Mike Song.

“If this commonsense safety measure had been in place, Ethan Song’s needless death could have been prevented,” said DeLauro in the press release. “In fact, the lives of thousands could be saved. There is no reason a child should be able to easily access a deadly weapon. Last Congress, we passed Ethan’s Law in the House of Representatives for the first time, and on a bipartisan basis. Congress must act, and once more pass Ethan’s Law to protect our children and families from senseless violence. I thank Kristin and Mike Song for leading the movement to protect our children and for turning great personal loss into a drive to prevent similar tragedies for other families. We will keep fighting until Ethan’s Law is the law of the land.”

Sen. Blumenthal identified with the pain and tragedy of the Song’s and hailed their efforts to bring something positive amidst such a horrific loss.

“No one should have to face the unimaginable grief of losing a loved one because of an unsecured firearm. Under Ethan’s Law, responsible, safe storage requirements will help prevent these senseless, unnecessary deaths and protect the thousands of children living in homes with unsecured guns,” said Blumenthal. “Through their tireless work, Kristin and Mike Song have been the face of courage and resilience – turning their grief into action. Their advocacy has saved lives across Connecticut, and passing this legislation will save lives across the country.”

Kristin Miller Song said that she and her family want legislators to know how simple, easy, and non-interfering the legislation is. Requiring gun owners to safely lock their firearms does not infringe on personal rights and is just good policy.

“Today marks five years since the ER doctor whispered, ‘your son is gone,’ and my family’s world shattered. We will never hear Ethan’s laugh, see his infectious smile or look into his beautiful green eyes again,” said Kristin Song. “We are walking an unimaginable journey; it is hell on earth. I know you don’t think it can happen to you. I didn’t either. Our goal in passing Ethan’s Law is to create a cultural shift where it becomes second nature for gun owners to secure their weapons if they are not in their immediate control. This law will not stop all the shootings, but it will stop many, and to those children and parents, that is priceless.”

Sen. Murphy affirmed that vision and said enacting a common sense storage law will save lives without infringing on anyone’s liberties.

“It’s simple: safe gun storage saves lives. I’m grateful to the Song family, who have turned unimaginable tragedy into advocacy. I’m proud to join Sen. Blumenthal and Congresswoman DeLauro in reintroducing this important legislation. Connecticut has already proven that Ethan’s Law will protect more kids from unsecured firearms, and Congress should follow suit,” said Murphy in the press release.

Miller Song said the news that the legislation would be reintroduced is a hopeful sign that the law may unify Congress and eventually be enacted.

“Mike and I are so excited Senators Blumenthal and Murphy, and Rep. DeLauro reintroduced Ethan’s Law this session. Last session, I met personally with over 330 legislators. I wanted to educate them on the facts of Ethan’s Law — guns must be stored if children or unauthorized people can gain access to them,” said Song.

Miller Song said the next step is to get both houses of Congress to understand what the law means for gun owners and to keep the pressure on elected officials to pass commonsense legislation.

“We will have to pass Ethan’s Law in the House and the Senate. President [Joe] Biden already promised me he would sign it. This session will be an uphill battle, but nobody thought the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act would pass. Mike and I will never give up, there are too many children dying; we are in it until Ethan’s Law passes. There is always hope,” Song said.

Ethan’s Law was passed by the Connecticut General Assembly in May of 2019 and signed by Governor Ned Lamont in June 2019. Last year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed Ethan’s Law as part of the Protecting Our Kids Act, a broader legislative package focused on addressing America’s gun violence epidemic. Twenty-four states already have some form of safe storage or child access prevention laws already on the books, but that legislation has stalled in the Senate.

“Safe storage laws are supported by the majority of Americans. Continuing to reject a commonsense policy backed by the American people is as undemocratic as it is negligent,” U.S. Representative Chris Himes said. “I am proud to join my colleagues in supporting this legislation, which has already been passed in Connecticut, and which will help protect children and teens nationwide from injury or death due to improperly secured firearms.”

According to Blumenthal’s office, Ethan’s Law is also endorsed by over 180 gun violence prevention and law enforcement advocacy groups, including the Newtown Action Alliance, Giffords, Everytown for Gun Safety, Brady: United Against Gun Violence, the Major Cities Chiefs Association, Sandy Hook Promise, and March For Our Lives.

“Each day in America, eight children and teens are unintentionally injured or killed in preventable instances of ‘family fire,’ shootings involving an unsecured or misused firearm found in the home. At least 4.6 million children live in homes with unlocked and loaded firearms, homes where childhood curiosity can quickly turn to permanent loss,” said Kris Brown, President of Brady: United Against Gun Violence, in the statement released by legislators. “Ethan’s Law is a common sense approach to this problem by establishing federal standards for safe gun storage. Brady is proud to endorse this life-saving legislation and grateful to Sen. Blumenthal and Rep. DeLauro for their leadership."