Plain Language Summary
# Ethan's Law Summary **What the bill does:** Ethan's Law would require gun owners to safely store firearms in their homes if a minor could access them without permission or if someone living in the home is prohibited from owning guns. Gun owners who fail to follow these storage requirements could face criminal penalties, and improperly stored firearms could be seized by authorities. The bill would also provide federal grants to states and tribes to establish similar safe storage laws. **Who it affects:** The bill primarily affects gun owners with children or household members ineligible to possess firearms, as well as state and tribal governments.
It would also impact law enforcement agencies responsible for enforcing storage requirements. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee, meaning it has been introduced but has not yet advanced to a full House vote. As with all bills in committee, it would need to be approved by the committee before proceeding further in the legislative process.
CRS Official Summary
Ethan's Law This bill establishes a framework to regulate the storage of firearms on residential premises at the federal, state, and tribal levels. At the federal level, the bill establishes statutory requirements for firearms on residential premises to be safely stored if a minor is likely to gain access without permission or if a resident is ineligible to possess a firearm. An individual who violates the requirements is subject to criminal penalties. A firearm stored in violation of the requirements is subject to seizure and forfeiture. At the state and tribal levels, the bill requires the Department of Justice to award grants to implement functionally identical requirements for the safe storage of firearms.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.