Lawful Commerce in Arms Act

The House Judiciary Committee is marking up H.R. 800, The Lawful Commerce in Arms Act today.

Contrary to most press reports, the legislation does not provide a blanket immunity to firearms manufacturers. Instead, it is part of a regime of narrowly tailored bills responding to the growing trend of orchestrated litigation being filed against entire legal industries with the goal of either raising government revenue of achieving policy goals outside the constraints of the political process.

H.R. 800 curtails this abusive situtation by limiting speculative litigation against firearms manufacturers for legally selling their product. It simply makes clear that, in most circumstances, a cause of action does not exist against the manufacturer or seller of firearms for the criminal or unlawful or otherwise negligent misuse of the product by the plaintiff or a third party. It does not provide blanket immunity however, and specificially preserves the ability of injured parties to pursue litigation if they are injured by a defective product or as a result of illegal conduct on the part of the firearm manufacturer.

If you can, please contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee today and ask that they vote in support of this important piece of legislation. This is a link to the markup webcast.