Gavin Newsom signs new gun-control law allowing lawsuits against firearm manufacturers

Californians will soon be able to sue gun manufacturers if they experience harm from their products, under a law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday.

Assembly Bill 1594 specifically authorizes individuals, the California attorney general or city or county attorneys to bring civil actions against firearms manufacturers “for an act or omission in violation of the firearm industry standard of conduct,” according to the legislative digest write-up of the bill.

The law goes into effect July 1, 2023.

In signing the bill, Newsom said in a statement that California stands with victims of gun violence and their families.

“Our kids, families and communities deserve streets free of gun violence and gun makers must be held accountable for their role in this crisis. Nearly every industry is held liable when people are hurt or killed by their products — guns should be no different,” Newsom said.

AB 1594 was part of a package of gun control bills sent to Newsom in response to the ongoing crisis of gun violence across the country. The bill, authored by Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, is similar to a New York law.

It is likely to face a stiff legal challenge.

In a statement, Ting said that gun violence is the leading cause of death among young people in the United States, surpassing even car accidents.

“For far too long, the firearms industry has enjoyed federal immunity from civil lawsuits, providing them no incentive for them to follow our laws. Hitting their bottom line may finally compel them to step up to reduce gun violence by preventing illegal sales and theft,” Ting said.

If challenged, the law would be defended in court by the state Attorney General’s Office. California’s current attorney general, Rob Bonta, a Democrat appointed by Newsom, said in a statement that there have been more mass shootings this year than there have been days in the year. That’s true, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which tracks shootings across the country.

“In California, we refuse to settle with thoughts and prayers as innocent lives are lost— we demand and will deliver urgent action, now,” Bonta said in a statement.