Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act

The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) prohibits lawsuits from being brought against firearms manufacturers, distributors, and dealers when a third party uses their products to commit a crime. Under this law, businesses in the firearms industry cannot be held civilly liable for damages resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of firearms or ammunition.

For citizens, this means that victims of gun violence generally cannot sue gun makers or sellers for the harm caused by a shooter. However, the law does allow for specific exceptions, such as cases involving defective products, breach of contract, or instances where a dealer knowingly violated the law or acted with negligence in a specific sale. While the law protects the industry from liability for crimes committed by others, it does not provide immunity for a company’s own illegal business practices or manufacturing errors.