Connecticut Law Targets Gun Manufacturers Over Liability Issues

Thu Oct 30 2025 19:30:06 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Lawmakers in Connecticut have enacted legislation aimed at holding gun manufacturers and sellers accountable for gun violence, challenging a federal law that shields them from liability. This law, which allows lawsuits against companies that don't prevent firearms from getting into the hands of banned individuals, has provoked a backlash from gun rights advocates.

Connecticut has become the latest state to enact laws enabling lawsuits against gun manufacturers. The legislation aims to hold these companies accountable if they fail to prevent firearms from getting into the hands of prohibited individuals. This move comes in light of ongoing gun violence and challenges the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which has historically shielded gun manufacturers from lawsuits regarding crimes committed using their firearms. Gun rights advocates claim these laws are unconstitutional, while supporters argue they will promote responsible practices within the industry.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Lawmakers in Connecticut have passed new legislation that could potentially hold gun manufacturers and sellers liable for gun violence, initiating a significant challenge to the federal law enacted in 2005 that grants protections to the firearm industry.

This new law, effective this month, allows for lawsuits against gun manufacturers if they do not take adequate actions to ensure that firearms do not end up in the hands of individuals who are prohibited from owning them or suspected of intention to use them for harm.

Over the past two years, ten states have enacted similar legislation aimed at increasing the liability of gun makers, prompting a significant backlash from gun rights advocates, who argue that these laws are an attempt to circumvent the protections offered by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). Lawrence G. Keane from the National Shooting Sports Foundation claimed that these new laws are unconstitutional and designed to financially weaken the industry.

However, advocates for gun control argue that these laws are crucial for ensuring that gun companies operate responsibly and can help in preventing future tragedies. Po Murray, chair of the Newtown Action Alliance, stated, 'These laws don’t just open the courthouse doors to survivors. They also force the gun industry to operate more responsibly.'

Historically, Congress adopted PLCAA in response to lawsuits that attempted to pin responsibility for violent crime on the firearm industry, asserting that gun companies need not be liable for the misuse of their products. Yet, exceptions exist, notably for cases where companies knowingly sell firearms to prohibited individuals.

As states continue to expand legal pathways to challenge the gun industry, the resilience of these new laws in the courts remains uncertain, with implications that could redefine the landscape of gun liability in the United States.