Connecticut's New Law Targets Gun Manufacturers Amid Ongoing Gun Violence Debate

Thu Oct 30 2025 20:20:14 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Connecticut has introduced a law that allows lawsuits against gun manufacturers for negligence in preventing firearms from being misused, joining a growing trend among states seeking to hold the gun industry accountable.

Two decades after the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act granted gun manufacturers immunity from lawsuits related to gun violence, states like Connecticut are passing new laws to challenge this immunity. The latest law, effective this month, enables lawsuits against gun manufacturers if they fail to prevent guns from falling into the hands of individuals who should not possess them, like convicted felons. This move has incited outrage from gun rights advocates, while proponents argue it holds manufacturers accountable for their products.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut has enacted a new law allowing individuals to sue gun manufacturers if they do not enact reasonable measures to prevent firearms from ending up in the hands of prohibited users, such as individuals with criminal backgrounds or documented mental health issues.

This law, effective this month, is part of a broader movement among states that have sought to challenge the longstanding legal protections enjoyed by gun manufacturers as established by the federal 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). Over the past couple of years, ten states have enacted similar measures aimed at increasing legal accountability for gun companies.

Advocates for gun control argue that these new laws are essential for requiring gun manufacturers to uphold standards that would prevent their products from contributing to gun violence and illegal activities. Proponents of gun regulation argue that the legislation compels manufacturers to take responsibility, thereby potentially reducing the likelihood of gun-related tragedies.

These moves have received significant pushback from gun rights groups, who claim that such legislative efforts undermine the protections afforded to the firearms industry under the PLCAA and seek to financially burden manufacturing companies.

Lawrence G. Keane, senior vice president for government and public affairs at the National Shooting Sports Foundation, condemned the laws, stating, “They know these laws are unconstitutional. They know these laws violate the PLCAA. They don’t care.”

In terms of liability, the PLCAA was enacted to protect gun manufacturers from the consequences of crimes committed with their firearms, as advocates argued that holding them accountable for the misuse of their legally sold products was unjust.

Nevertheless, advocates for gun safety assert that allowing lawsuits to proceed under these new state laws compels the gun industry to make more responsible business decisions. Po Murray, chair of the Newtown Action Alliance, expressed that these legislative measures can both empower survivors and push the gun industry to act with greater accountability.

In the face of these developments, it remains to be seen how courts will respond to these new lawsuits. As states begin to establish clearer accountability frameworks for gun manufacturers, the coming months and years could witness significant legal challenges that may redefine the landscape of gun regulation in the United States.