Tell Congress To Act On Gun Violence
In March 2016, Brave New Films, Daily Kos, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, Newtown Action Alliance, Women Against Gun Violence, New Yorkers Against Gun Violence and many other groups delivered over 200,000 petition signatures to Congress urging them to repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) by passing the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act (H.R. 4399/S. 2469). PLCAA provides unique and unprecedented legal protections to the gun industry, shielding gun manufacturers, distributors and dealers from lawsuits when they engage in negligent behavior that causes harm to average Americans.
The petition delivery was a success—and has led to new Members of Congress signing onto H.R. 4399/S. 2469 as cosponsors! But we need to keep the pressure up in order to ensure that the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act advances through the appropriate committees and to the floor of the House and Senate for a vote.
Sign below and we will deliver your petition to your Members of Congress for you!
Gun manufacturers and dealers make huge profits from America’s gun violence epidemic, which kills over 33,000 Americans a year. Yet they have a unique immunity that shields them from accountability for the injuries their products create. Right now people can sue a toy company for an injury from a water gun, or a car company for the injury from an airbag, but they can’t sue a gun company for a death from a firearm. And with 50,000 guns sold to criminals across U.S. state lines each year, it’s time to fix that. The majority of guns sold to criminals come from a small portion of what are known as “bad-apple” gun dealers. It’s time to hold them accountable.
Pass the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act (H.R. 4399/S. 2469), which would repeal the gun industry’s immunity from being sued.
The gun industry has special protections and cannot be sued or held liable for the injury its products cause. This is due to previous legislation passed to protect gun dealers known as PLCAA (The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act).
The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act (H.R. 4399/S. 2469), introduced earlier this year, would overturn PLCAA and repeal this immunity. These bills in the House and the Senate would allow Americans to hold firearm manufacturers and dealers liable for harm caused by the weapons they sell.
This legislation would make the gun industry accountable to their products in the same way industries like the car and toy industries already are. Right now, you can sue for damage done by a toy water gun, but not for damage done by a real gun. This legislation would fix that.
Let Congress know you support this legislation. It’s time to hold the gun industry accountable for knowingly selling firearms to criminals for the sake of profit.