States Take Aim at Gun Industry Immunity with New Laws

Sun Nov 30 2025 22:55:54 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant push against gun violence, several blue states are probing legal loopholes to hold gun manufacturers accountable, two decades after federal protections shielded them from lawsuits.

Following two decades of immunity for gun manufacturers, states like Connecticut have enacted laws aimed at holding the industry accountable for firearms misuse. These legal modifications allow lawsuits against gun makers if they fail to prevent illegal access to their products. Gun rights advocates argue these laws are unconstitutional, while proponents claim they enhance public safety.

HARTFORD, Conn. (FlashPoint) — Twenty years after a Republican-led Congress provided gun manufacturers with legal immunity against lawsuits related to crimes committed with their firearms, several blue states are taking bold actions to challenge that status quo. Frustrated by the persistent gun violence, state legislatures are implementing new laws to make it easier to sue gun manufacturers and sellers.

Since 2021, ten states have introduced legislation aimed at undermining the legal protections enjoyed by the firearms industry. Connecticut's recent law, which came into effect this month, allows lawsuits against firearms manufacturers and retailers if they fail to take adequate measures to prevent guns from reaching individuals prohibited from ownership or those likely to use them to cause harm.

In the wake of these legislative changes, numerous lawsuits have emerged against gun companies, invoking claims that they have created a “public nuisance” through their marketing and sales practices. This has ignited backlash from gun rights advocates who argue that these measures attempt to circumvent the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which has provided gun manufacturers with protection from liability since its enactment in 2005.

As gun control groups cheer these new laws, viewing them as a step towards greater accountability, critics within the industry claim they are unconstitutional and aim solely to financially drain firearms makers. Lawrence G. Keane, senior vice president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, denounced the legal actions as a strategy to harass the industry.

Supporters of the new laws maintain that they compel gun manufacturers to implement more responsible practices to prevent illegal sales and usage of firearms. “These laws don’t just open the courthouse doors for victims,” asserted Po Murray, chair of the Newtown Action Alliance. “They ensure the gun industry operates more responsibly and aim to prevent future tragedies.”

The legal landscape surrounding these issues is likely to evolve continuously, as challenges to the new state regulations are anticipated. Courts are yet to definitively rule on the constitutionality of these laws, and further legal battles are foreseen in the coming months, especially with the U.S. Supreme Court's composition fueling speculation regarding potential rulings on gun-related matters.

As states like New York have shown, the effort to amend the legal framework surrounding gun liability is not just about legal accountability, but also about altering industry practices to enhance public safety and prevent future tragedies linked to gun violence.