Defective Firearms Protection Act

Key Points

• This bill would remove the legal exclusion that currently prevents the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) from regulating firearms. Right now, guns are one of the very few consumer products the CPSC is not allowed to oversee for safety defects.
• The bill works by striking two specific provisions in existing law: one that excludes firearms from the definition of "consumer product" under the Consumer Product Safety Act, and another that limits the CPSC's rulemaking authority over firearms.
• If enacted, the CPSC could investigate reports of firearms that malfunction, such as guns that fire when dropped or have other mechanical defects. The agency could also order recalls or require manufacturers to fix dangerous products, just as it does for other consumer goods.
• Gun manufacturers would become subject to the same safety reporting and compliance rules that apply to makers of cars, toys, and household appliances. This could mean new costs and obligations for the firearms industry, but also better protections for gun owners.