Newtown Action Alliance and Ethan Miller Song Foundations Applaud President Joe Biden for Working to Reduce Military and Veteran Suicides
For Immediate Release
November 2, 2021
Newtown Action Alliance and Ethan Miller Song Foundations Applaud President Joe Biden
for Working to Reduce Military and Veteran Suicides
Lethal Means Safety Measures Including Safe Firearm Storage Will Save Lives
Newtown, CT- Newtown Action Alliance and Ethan Miller Song Foundations applaud President Biden for taking unprecedented steps to reduce military and veteran suicides with a broad messaging campaign on lethal means safety, safe firearm storage, and best practices for gun dealers.
Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance said, “President Biden is not waiting for Congress to pass universal background check, assault weapons ban, extreme risk protection, safe firearm storage and other lifesaving legislation to end the gun violence public health crisis in our nation. In addition to his previous executive and budgetary actions, President Biden is now working to dramatically reduce the incidence of gun suicides in America by developing an unprecedented interagency educational campaign to reduce lethal means that includes safe firearm storage messaging and gun industry accountability.” Murray continued, “In 2019, 23,941 or 60% of all gun deaths were due to gun suicides. Gun suicides disproportionately impact white men including military service members and veterans. 17,427 white men died due to gun suicides in 2019. Reducing lethal means and promoting safe firearm storage practices are essential lifesaving measures in a nation with 400 million civilian-owned firearms.”
Kristin Song, Founder of Ethan Miller Song Foundation and Board Advisor of Newtown Action Alliance Foundation said, “We live in a gun-free home therefore we thought our children were safe but in 2018, my beautiful 15-year-old boy Ethan was shot and killed by an unsecured gun at his best friend’s house. After my son was killed, we led the fight to pass Ethan’s Law to strengthen the safe storage law in Connecticut. We are now working with Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Rosa DeLauro to pass the federal version of Ethan’s Law to set the federal standards for safe firearm storage.” Song continued, “While we wait for Congress to do its job of passing lifesaving laws, we applaud President Biden for making a commitment to end gun suicides with executive actions. These measures will not only save the lives of military service members and veterans but many children who are going through a moment of crisis in their lives. Most Americans are not aware that having a gun in the home doubles our risk for homicides and triples our risk for suicides.”
Veteran’s Day is next Thursday. Song’s son told her the morning he died that he wanted to join the Army. She is participating in the Stop Soldier Suicide 100 Mile Challenge. She will be running 100 miles in November to raise awareness of the alarming rate of veterans dying by suicide and to honor Ethan.
Murray said, “In 2019, 1167 children and teens aged 0 to 19 were victims of gun suicides. The Newtown Action Alliance and Ethan Miller Song Foundations established the Campaign to Keep Kids Safe to educate parents, educators, health care professionals, and others on the inherent risk of having guns in our homes. Last month, the campaign led a successful statewide gun buyback and gun safe giveaway day in Connecticut. Over 500 guns were collected, over 300 electronic gun safes were distributed, and hundreds of educational materials on gun safety and safe firearm storage were distributed. Less guns in our homes and communities will reduce gun homicides and gun suicides. The campaign encourages other states to participate in a National Gun Buyback and Gun Safe Giveaway next October. Any group interested in participating should contact us at info@newtownaction.org.”
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The Campaign to Keep Kids Safe (CKKS) was established by the Newtown Action Alliance Foundation
and the Ethan Miller Song Foundation as an educational program for parents, educators & healthcare professionals to reduce unintentional shootings among children and childhood gun suicides and homicides in America; to provide gun safes to gun owners; and promote community gun buyback opportunities.
Newtown Action Alliance Foundation (NAAF) was established after 20 children and six educators were shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2021. NAAF provides comfort, education, scholarship, support and resources to people and communities impacted by gun violence in America. Our goal is to help all American communities move forward together to create a positive cultural change towards a more peaceful, less violent future.
Ethan Miller Song Foundation was formed to honor Ethan Miller Song. Ethan died in his best friend’s house. Unbeknownst to Ethan’s parents the best friend’s father stored three unsecured guns with the ammunition in a shoebox. Ethan was killed on January 31, 2018, he had just turned 15-year-old. The Ethan Miller Song Foundation’s mission is to develop and support programs and causes that keep kids safe, rescue abused/neglected animals and honor our veterans - all things close to Ethan’s heart.