As Gun Hearing Nears, A Guilford Mom Talks About Death of Her Son

GUILFORD, CT - As a public hearing on a safe storage for gun law introduced by Guilford State Rep. Sean Scanlon on behalf of the mother and dad of Ethan Song, who tragically died in a gun accident last year, his mom talks about the importance of the issue.

In the words of Kristin Song, Ethan's mom, here is what Monday's hearing at the state capitol is about:

"On January 31, 2018, my world came crashing down. My beautiful boy, Ethan, walked to our neighbor's house to visit his friend. Unbeknownst to me, his friend's father left three guns, ammunition and keys for the trigger lock all together in the same unlocked container—making the guns easily accessible to curious teenage boys.

"They decided it would be cool to show each other posing with the guns on social media. They had been dry triggering the guns for six months and nothing ever happened. His friend had just gone through the NRA safety class. They were safe, right?

"I heard the ambulance scream past my house as I saw two police officers walk across my front lawn. My heart sank. The gun Ethan was posing with went off and my beautiful boy's smile was unrecognizable.

"Ethan's death was completely preventable, if only the father had securely stored his guns. That's why I'm fighting to pass "Ethan's Law," to strengthen Connecticut's safe storage requirements, which currently only pertain to loaded weapons.

"I need your help.

"There is a public hearing next Monday, March 11 on H.B. 7218, "Ethan's Law." Please show up for the hearing, submit written testimony or even testify in person. It's not difficult and CAGV's Public Hearing Guide walks you through all the details; click here to sign up and get the guide.

"Although I have lost so much that is dear to me I have never lost faith that a better day will come. You, my friends, have the power to make a better day for another child, another family, another community."

Honor through Action.

Warm regards,

Kristin Song

And for those of you who are not familiar with the case, in January 2018, Ethan Song, 15, died as a result of a gun accident. No adult was charged but a juvenile has been charged with second-degree manslaughter.

No criminal charges will be filed against the adult owner of a gun that was used in the accidental shooting death of Ethan Song, 15, who died after shooting himself, according to State's Attorney Maureen T. Platt.

In a statement released by the State's Attorney's Office in December 2018, it concludes that "The death of Ethan Song was a horrific and preventable tragedy. However, existing law does not support a prosecution of the gun owner under any applicable statute. Two premises underlie this belief: (1) The gun owner's conduct in storing the guns did not itself violate the law, and (2) there is a lack of evidence that he knew, or should have known, that a juvenile was likely to gain access to the guns without his permission."

See related: Juvenile Charged In Connection With Ethan Song's Death

Ethan Song's Dad: I Will "Honor My Son's Life Through Action"

"Ethan's Law" would require gun owners to lock up all firearms in homes with children age 18 or under — regardless of whether the weapons are loaded. If a tragedy similar to Ethan's death occurred, the owner of the gun would be charged with a felony, Rep. Sean Scanlon, D-Guilford, said.

In Ethan's case, the homeowner left the gun unloaded in a cardboard box in a closet with the bullets nearby, according to an investigation by Waterbury State's Attorney Maureen Platt.
Ethan and the owner's son were handling the gun when the 15-year-old was shot and killed.

Platt concluded that the owner couldn't be charged with a crime since under state law it is legal to leave an unloaded handgun unlocked. It is currently a felony to leave a loaded gun unlocked in a home with a child under the age of 16, lawmakers said.

The bill, which is new this year, "would have saved Ethan's life as well as other lives across the country," said Jeremy Stein, executive director of CT Against Gun Violence.

"Safe storage is one of the prime responsibilities of any gun owner," Stein said.