The Kane County Board, by a vote of 20 yes, one no and one abstention, has approved a resolution endorsing Ethan’s Law. The measure is named for 15-year-old Ethan Song and aims to prevent unauthorized access to firearms by minors, by requiring secure firearm storage within households.
Song died after accidentally shooting himself with a gun that had been left, unsecured, at a friend’s home in 2018. Since then, Song’s parents have pushed for a nationwide law to help ensure guns are safely security and out of the reach of children.
Ethan’s Law proposes requiring the use of trigger locks, cable locks or other secure storage mechanisms by firearm owners.
The measure also promotes education and awareness programs to educate the public on safe firearm storage practices and emphasizes the importance of responsible firearm ownership.
The resolution is effectively symbolic, as it does not create law within the county, but merely expresses support for efforts in Congress to pass a similar law.
“The Kane County Board recognizes the importance of promoting the safety and well-being of all residents, particularly the youth of our community. The tragic events surrounding the untimely death of Ethan Song, a young resident of our Country, have highlighted the need for stricter regulations regarding firearm storage and access. Ethan’s Law is a proposed Federal legislation aimed at preventing unauthorized access to firearms by ensuring the safe and secure storage of fireman’s within households. Ethan’s Law advocates for the responsible gun ownership and seeks to reduce the incidence of accidental shootings and self-inflicted injuries, especially among children and vulnerable individuals. Ethan’s Law proposes that firearm owners be required to securely store firearms in a manner that prevents access by unauthorized individuals, including the use of trigger locks, cable locks, or other secure storage mechanisms. Ethan’s Law also promotes education and awareness programs to educate the public on safe firearm storage practices and emphasizes the importance of responsible firearm ownership. The passage of Ethan’s Law would contribute to enhancing public safety, protecting our community’s children and reducing the likelihood of tragic accidents involving firearms.”
State Sen. Laura Ellman, D-Naperville, introduced Illinois’ version of Ethan’s Law in February. It has yet to be voted on by the Senate.
The federal version of Ethan’s Law was passed by the US House of Reprsentatives as par of an Omnibus Bill in 2022, but the Senate did not act upon it. It was reintroduced early this year and remains stalled in both houses of Congress.
(Kanecountyconnects.com contributed to this article.)
