Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act

If this passes, victims of gun violence will have almost no ability to sue firearm manufacturers or retailers for negligent design, inadequate safety warnings, irresponsible marketing to at-risk groups, or negligent sales practices such as straw purchases or sales to prohibited persons. The current PLCAA (enacted 2005) already provides broad immunity; this bill expands it further. When PLCAA passed, litigation against gun makers dropped from dozens of active cases to near zero. Cities like New York, Chicago, and others have unsuccessfully challenged PLCAA in federal court; expanded immunity language in this bill would make such challenges even more difficult. Gun violence remains the leading cause of death for children and adolescents in the U.S., according to CDC data (2020–2023). No civil remedy avenue would remain available to families seeking compensation for injuries or deaths caused by negligent firearms distribution or defective design—a remedy available to consumers injured by other products.