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Teen’s death spurs federal, state safe gun storage bills

In this Nov. 27, 2018 photo, Michael Song, left, father of Ethan Song, points toward heaven and says in unison with those gathered, "We Love You Ethan," during a press conference about gun safety in front of First Congregational Church in Guilford, Conn. From second left, State Senator-elect Christine Cohen, Jeremy Stein, executive director of CT Against Gun Violence, State Representative Sean Scanlon, Kristin Song, Ethan's mother, and Rev. Ginger Brasher-Cunningham. Still coping with the death of their teenage son a year ago, the Songs are advocating for tougher federal and state laws on safe gun storage aimed at keeping firearms out of the hands of children. (Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP)
In this Nov. 27, 2018 photo, Michael Song, left, father of Ethan Song, points toward heaven and says in unison with those gathered, "We Love You Ethan," during a press conference about gun safety in front of First Congregational Church in Guilford, Conn. From second left, State Senator-elect Christine Cohen, Jeremy Stein, executive director of CT Against Gun Violence, State Representative Sean Scanlon, Kristin Song, Ethan's mother, and Rev. Ginger Brasher-Cunningham. Still coping with the death of their teenage son a year ago, the Songs are advocating for tougher federal and state laws on safe gun storage aimed at keeping firearms out of the hands of children. (Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP)

By Associated Press 4 min read

photo This 2017 photo provided by Mike Song shows his son Ethan Song posing in his lacrosse outfit in their hometown of Guilford, Conn. Ethan Song accidentally shot himself in the head with a handgun owned by his friend’s father on Jan. 31, 2018 when he was 15. His death has spurred his parents to advocate for tougher federal and state laws on safe gun storage. Versions of “Ethan’s Law” were introduced this month in the U.S. Senate and Connecticut House of Representatives. They would require gun owners to take steps to prevent unauthorized users from accessing their weapons. (Mike Song via AP)

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) – Still coping with the death of their teenage son a year ago, Michael and Kristin Song are on a mission that is helping to relieve some of their pain – advocating for tougher federal and state laws on safe gun storage aimed at keeping firearms out of children’s hands.

Ethan Song, 15, accidentally shot himself in the head with a handgun owned by his friend’s father in their hometown of Guilford, Connecticut, on Jan. 31, 2018. The friend’s father had kept the .357 magnum and two other guns secured with gun locks in a plastic container in his bedroom closet, but keys to the locks and ammunition also were in the container, police said.

Versions of “Ethan’s Law” were introduced this month in the U.S. Senate and Connecticut House of Representatives. Under the federal bill, gun owners could face up to five years in prison and a $500 fine if they leave a firearm unsecured at home and a minor or someone else who can’t legally possess a gun uses it to injure or kill themselves or another person. It also includes incentives for states to pass their own laws.

“We really want to get it passed,” Michael Song said. “I truly believe this could save thousands of lives. It’s a mission for our family to help us get through this tragedy that we have had to endure.”

Nearly 1,700 children under 18 died from accidental gun deaths from 2001 to 2017 and more than 33,000 were injured, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Advocates say recent research shows such accidents happened roughly twice as often as the records indicate.