Momentum growing for Connecticut gun control law in Washington

NEW HAVEN, CT (WFSB) - Connecticut lawmakers are seeking to reintroduce Ethan’s Law at the federal level.

Ethan’s Law was designed to make homes with firearms safer by requiring that weapons be stored and locked in a safe way.

Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy joined Rep. Rosa DeLauro and the family of Ethan Song for a news conference in New Haven to discuss the push:

The state legislation was named after 15-year-old Ethan Song, a Guilford teen who was killed with an unsecured gun at a friend’s home.

Thursday would have been Ethan’s 20th birthday. His parents have been relentless in their pushes for safe storage laws. They did it first at the state level. Now, they’re focused on the federal level.

“Safe gun storage is the least polarizing gun issue that exists today in America and it’s time for Americans to come together for community, for community gains chaos to give parents the freedom to see their kids grow up,” said Mike Song, Ethan’s father.

Ethan’s Law has already been discussed on the national scale in light of recent mass shootings.

President Joe Biden also referenced safe storage laws in a speech earlier this summer.

The new federal bill would carry strict penalties for those who do not safely store their weapons.

The legislation would also give individual states incentives to pass similar laws.

In Connecticut, the law requires gun owners to lock up and secure their firearms and ammunition if someone under the age of 18 lives in the house.

DeLauro’s office claimed that more than 100 lawmakers have signaled support for the bill in Congress.

“If these basic safety measures and consequences are codified into law, Ethan’s tragic death and the death of so many others could have been prevented,” DeLauro said.

Ethan’s parents say the time is now.

“40,000 families like ours will not see their children grow up, will not see parents, husbands, brothers, sisters grow up. What does it mean to those families? It’s a mountain of pain and a river of bitter, bitter tears because these deaths can be prevented,” said Mike Song.

“This isn’t a radical proposal, it’s not a controversial proposal. This is a bill that’s supported by Republicans and Democrats, left and right, all across this country and we need to get it done,” said Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy.

Now with a Republican controlled house, they said they know it won’t be easy, but feel the tide is turning.

“My beautiful boy was shot in the head with an unsecured gun at this best friend’s house, yet hours before he sat at breakfast table and told me about his hopes and dreams. How could this be?” said Kristin Song.

They say recent video of an Indiana toddler getting his hands on a gun shows why it should be locked up.

“This bill doesn’t take a single firearm away from any law abiding American, this law doesn’t prevent anybody from owning a gun who’s obeying the laws. This bill doesn’t ban any type of weapons. This bill is about promoting responsible ownership,” said Murphy.

“Safe gun storage is the least polarizing gun issue that exists today in America and its time for Americans to come together for community, for community against chaos to give parents the freedom to see their kids grow up,” Mike Song said.

DeLauro said she will re-introduce the bill on January 31, a day that marks five years since Ethan’s death.

That same day, Ethan’s family will host a blood drive in Guilford as a way for his death to not only represent life, but to also give life.

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