Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2025

Key Points

• This bill would repeal a 2005 law that currently protects gun manufacturers and dealers from most lawsuits. Right now, these businesses generally cannot be sued if a gun they made or sold is used to commit a crime.
• If passed, victims of gun violence and their families would be able to sue gun companies in civil court. They could argue that a company’s marketing or sales practices were irresponsible and contributed to a specific shooting or crime.
• The bill also makes gun trace data available for use in court. This is information kept by the government that tracks a gun from the factory to the first store that sold it, which can help lawyers prove how a weapon ended up in the wrong hands.
• Supporters say this change would hold the gun industry accountable for public safety, similar to how car or tobacco companies can be sued. Opponents often argue that businesses should not be blamed for the illegal actions of people who use their products.