CT Congressional Delegation Reintroduces National Ethan's Law Proposal

CONNECTICUT — Members of the Connecticut congressional delegation reintroduced a national version of Ethan's Law that would require gun owners to safely secure and store their firearms.

The bill is named after Ethan Song, a Guilford teenager who was killed by an unsecured gun in a neighbor's home. Connecticut passed its own Ethan's Law in 2019. A federal version of Ethan's Law passed the U.S. House last year as part of a larger Protecting Our Kids Act.

Currently, 24 states already have some form of safe storage or child access prevention law on the books.

It is estimated that 4.6 million children live in homes with at least one loaded and unsecured firearm, according to the Giffords Law Center.

“No one should have to face the unimaginable grief of losing a loved one because of an unsecured firearm," Sen. Richard Blumenthal said in a statement. "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."

Rep. Rosa DeLauro urged Congress to pass the law this year.

“If this commonsense safety measure had been in place, Ethan Song’s needless death could have been prevented,” she said. “In fact, the lives of thousands could be saved. There is no reason a child should be able to easily access a deadly weapon."