PLCAA narrows the routes available to gun violence victims seeking compensation in court, shifting many disputes over firearms harms from civil litigation to legislative and regulatory arenas.
A federal law that mostly protects gun makers and sellers from being sued when their guns are used in crimes, except in a few specific situations.
State laws like New York's test how far states can go in creating civil liability for the gun industry without running afoul of PLCAA's federal protections.
Federal courts must dismiss most civil suits filed against firearm manufacturers or sellers when a third party uses a legally sold gun to commit a crime.
Plaintiffs can proceed if they show a manufacturer or seller knowingly violated a statute applicable to firearm sales or marketing, a clause known as the 'predicate exception.'
Several states have enacted public-nuisance or marketing statutes designed to fit within PLCAA's exceptions, allowing civil suits against industry members to move forward in state courts.
A 2005 federal law shields gunmakers from many lawsuits, but a growing number of states are testing its limits.
Read the guide →A 2026 Supreme Court decision leaves intact state laws opening the firearms industry to civil suits, reigniting a debate over federal preemption and industry accountability.
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