Which states have expanded legal accountability for the gun industry?
10 states have adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Alabama has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Alaska has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Arizona has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Arkansas has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
California has adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Colorado has adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Connecticut has adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Delaware has adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Florida has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Georgia has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Hawaii has adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Idaho has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Illinois has adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Indiana has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Iowa has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Kansas has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Kentucky has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Louisiana has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Maine has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Maryland has adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Massachusetts has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Michigan has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Minnesota has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Mississippi has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Missouri has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Montana has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Nebraska has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Nevada has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
New Hampshire has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
New Jersey has adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
New Mexico has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
New York has adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
North Carolina has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
North Dakota has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Ohio has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Oklahoma has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Oregon has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Pennsylvania has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Rhode Island has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
South Carolina has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
South Dakota has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Tennessee has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Texas has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Utah has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Vermont has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Virginia has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Washington has adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
West Virginia has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Wisconsin has not adopted this policy
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Wyoming has not adopted this policy
What It Does
Since 2005, dangerous actors in the gun industry have been shielded from accountability for their practices by a unique federal law1Everytown for Gun Safety, “Repeal Special Protection for Bad Actors in the Gun Industry,” April 13, 2021, https://www.everytown.org/report/repeal-special-protection-for-bad-actors-in-the-gun-industry/. that offers protections not available to makers or vendors in the automobile, tobacco, or opioid industries. However, several states have adopted a novel legal approach that re-opens the courthouse door as wide as federal law will allow. Pioneered by New York in 2021, these states have enacted laws designed to break through these protections and give gun violence survivors access to justice by allowing them (along with state authorities) to file suit against manufacturers and dealers whose bad conduct results in harm. A full discussion on Immunity for the Gun Industry is here and learn more about the gun industry’s role in gun violence here.
The Impact
Special legal protections have blocked accountability for dealers when their guns are used in crime–even if the guns were never locked up and ultimately stolen, or even if they were sold to a person showing clear danger signs. These state laws give survivors room to get into court and ensure the industry faces consequences, despite federal law’s industry shield.
Legal Accountability for Gun Industry
Show Citations and Footnotes
Source: Cal. Civ. Code §§ 3273.50, 3273.51, 3273.52, 3273.53, 3273.54, 3273.55; Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 6-27-101; 6-27-102, 6-27-103, 6-27-104, 6-27-105, 6-27-106; CT House Bill 7042 (2025) (to be codified); Del. Code tit. 10, § 3930; Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 134–101, 134–102, 134–103, 134–104; 815 Ill. Comp. Stat. § 505/2BBBB; Md. Courts and Judicial Proceedings Code Ann. §§ 3-2301–3-2304; N.J. Stat. §§ 2C:58-33, 2C:58-34, 2C:58-35, 2C:58-36; N.Y. Gen. Bus. §§ 898-a, 898-b, 898-c, 898-d, 898-e; Wash. Rev. Code § 7.48.330.