Ethan's Law
Sponsored By: Representative DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
Introduced
Summary
Secure firearm storage would become a federal standard that makes it an offense to leave guns where a minor or someone barred from owning firearms is likely to gain access. The bill also creates grants to help states and tribes adopt matching laws and signals that unsafe storage can count as negligence in civil cases.
Show full summary
- Families and children: Owners would have to secure firearms if a person under 18 or someone ineligible is likely to access them. The law defines a minor as under 18 and targets situations where access is likely.
- Gun owners and legal consequences: Violations carry a $500 fine per offense. If a violation leads to injury or death the owner faces up to 5 years in prison, fines, and possible forfeiture of the firearm. Exceptions apply if the gun is locked with an approved device, kept where a reasonable person would expect it to be secure, or carried on the owner.
- States and Tribal governments: A new Firearm Safe Storage Program would award grants to states and Indian Tribes that pass laws functionally identical to the federal standard. The Attorney General must give preference to compliant jurisdictions for certain grants from fiscal years 2025 through 2029, and a one year eligibility exception covers preexisting matching laws.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Grants to states for safe gun storage
If enacted, the Assistant Attorney General would give grants to States and Tribes that pass a gun‑storage law matching the federal rule and send a written certification. Money could help police and courts enforce and support compliance with those laws. If a place already has a matching law, it could apply in the first year after enactment if it certifies. Applicants would file as the Department of Justice requires. From 2025 through 2029, the Attorney General would give preference to Bureau of Justice Assistance grant applications from States and Tribes with the matching law and certification.
New penalties for unsafe gun storage
If enacted, it would be illegal to keep a gun at home unsecured when a child is likely to access it without permission, or a resident cannot legally have a gun. You could avoid penalties by using a secure lock or safe, storing it where a reasonable person would think it is secure, or keeping it on your person or within quick reach. The fine would be $500 for each violation. If someone gets the gun and causes injury or death, you could face a fine, up to 5 years in prison, or both. Guns stored in violation could be seized. A minor would mean under age 18.
Easier lawsuits after unsafe gun storage
The bill states Congress’s view on civil lawsuits after unsafe storage. Not following the storage rule would count as negligence. If that failure is the but‑for cause of a shooting, it should be treated as a legal cause, even if someone acted intentionally. If passed, this could make it easier for victims to win damages against people who failed to secure a gun.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
CT • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]
CT • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4]
CT • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]
FL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
ME • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]
GA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]
MA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4]
MA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1]
MA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
FL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20]
TX • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]
VA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Gomez, Jimmy [D-CA-34]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]
AL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
LA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
OR • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]
DE • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Sherrill
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]
MN • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]
FL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]
CO • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]
MD • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]
GA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
WA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Keating, William R. [D-MA-9]
MA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]
VA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4]
MD • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]
NM • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Cisneros, Gilbert Ray [D-CA-31]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
CO • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/25/2025
Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/26/2025
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/26/2025
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
FL • D
Sponsored 2/26/2025
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 2/26/2025
Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/27/2025
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Sylvester Turner
TX • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/3/2025
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1]
IN • D
Sponsored 3/4/2025
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 3/10/2025
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]
OR • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
MA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]
KS • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7]
TX • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]
NM • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3]
MD • D
Sponsored 3/25/2025
Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]
IL • D
Sponsored 3/27/2025
Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]
MN • D
Sponsored 3/31/2025
Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 4/9/2025
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
VA • D
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
TX • D
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]
AZ • D
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
MO • D
Sponsored 4/30/2025
Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
WA • D
Sponsored 5/8/2025
Rep. Conaway, Herbert C. [D-NJ-3]
NJ • D
Sponsored 5/8/2025
Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/15/2025
Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/21/2025
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
WA • D
Sponsored 6/3/2025
Rep. Liccardo, Sam T. [D-CA-16]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/6/2025
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
NV • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13]
GA • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 6/12/2025
Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/26/2025
Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
NH • D
Sponsored 7/15/2025
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]
NM • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 7/16/2025
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
Sponsored 7/21/2025
Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/23/2025
Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5]
MD • D
Sponsored 8/1/2025
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/1/2025
Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/1/2025
Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]
OR • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 9/11/2025
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
IN • D
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 9/15/2025
Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
FL • D
Sponsored 9/16/2025
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
Sponsored 9/30/2025
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]
FL • D
Sponsored 10/6/2025
Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]
NJ • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
TX • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]
NY • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
MS • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]
TX • D
Sponsored 10/8/2025
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
MD • D
Sponsored 10/10/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]
PA • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3]
MN • D
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]
TN • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Sponsored 11/19/2025
Pelosi
CA • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]
NJ • D
Sponsored 11/21/2025
Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]
MI • D
Sponsored 11/21/2025
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 11/25/2025
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
Sponsored 12/4/2025
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/9/2025
Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/12/2025
Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/16/2025
Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]
TX • D
Sponsored 1/6/2026
Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
NH • D
Sponsored 1/6/2026
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/8/2026
Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]
NY • D
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22]
NY • D
Sponsored 1/22/2026
Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
OH • D
Sponsored 2/2/2026
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 2/10/2026
Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16]
TX • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Rep. Clyburn, James E. [D-SC-6]
SC • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]
MD • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12]
NC • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]
WA • D
Sponsored 4/30/2026
Rep. Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11]
NJ • D
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]
WA • D
Sponsored 10/5/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov