Gavin Newsom, governor of California, signed a federal bill, New California Gun Law, on Tuesday that clears the way for victims of gun violence to sue irresponsible firearm manufactures.
According to Giffords Law Center, the move to strengthen gun safety laws in California has the greatest policy in the United States.
“To the victims of gun violence and their families: California stands with you. The gun industry can no longer hide from the devastating harm their products cause,” Newsom said in a news release.
A 2005 federal law protects gun producers and retailers from being sued when their weapons are used in criminal activities.
The California Assembly Bill 1594 exempts gun makers or merchants from being sued for violations of state laws on the matter of sales or campaigns.
The governor says, “Our kids, families and communities deserve streets free of gun violence and gun makers must be held accountable for their role in this crisis. Nearly every industry is held liable when people are hurt or killed by their products — guns should be no different”.
Invested $156 million by the state has allocated grants to more than 80 localities and organizations to help them design safety programs unique to their regions.
“Gun manufacturers & distributors have been protected from the mass destruction they cause for too long,”
Newsom said in a Twitter post that included a video of him holding up the signed bill.
“Today, CA changes that. I just signed a bill that will allow victims of gun violence to sue the makers of these deadly weapons & hold them accountable.”
Gun manufacturers & distributors have been shielded from the mass destruction they cause for too long.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 12, 2022
Today, CA changes that.
I just signed a bill that will allow victims of gun violence to sue the makers of these deadly weapons & hold them accountable. pic.twitter.com/S0AlrrkhML
The bill — “allows individuals, local governments and the California Attorney General” to take legal action against gun manufacturers and gun sellers, according to a release about the bill.
California bill marks a important change in the legal challenges gun manufacturers may face.