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Federal Requirement for Safe Firearm Storage to Prevent Youth Access.

This law establishes a federal mandate for gun owners to securely store firearms in residences, particularly when minors (under 18) or individuals ineligible to possess a firearm reside there or are likely to gain access. The goal is to reduce accidental shootings, suicides, and gun theft. Non-compliance results in fines, potential imprisonment if injury or death occurs, and increased civil liability.
Key points
Gun owners must secure firearms using a safety device or store them in a location a reasonable person would consider secure, especially if minors are present.
Failure to secure a firearm, allowing access to a minor or ineligible person, results in a $500 fine per violation.
If improper storage leads to injury or death, the owner faces up to 5 years in prison and enhanced fines.
The law creates a grant program to financially assist states that adopt similar safe storage laws and emphasizes that non-compliance constitutes negligence in civil court.
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Expired
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Additional Information
Print number: 118_S_173
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Process start date: 2023-01-31
Lustra uses Artificial Intelligence. Verify details in source documents.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-09-2025
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Ethan's Law

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 118_S_173.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the Senate.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2023-01-31.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Gun owners must secure firearms using a safety device or store them in a location a reasonable person would consider secure, especially if minors are present.
  • Failure to secure a firearm, allowing access to a minor or ineligible person, results in a $500 fine per violation.
  • If improper storage leads to injury or death, the owner faces up to 5 years in prison and enhanced fines.
  • The law creates a grant program to financially assist states that adopt similar safe storage laws and emphasizes that non-compliance constitutes negligence in civil court.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Expired.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Introduced in Senate

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-26.

CATEGORIES

Security Courts and Law