California Assembly Bill 1594 “uses an exception to federal statute that allows gun manufacturers or sellers to be sued for violations of state laws relating to the sale or marketing of firearms,” according to the California news release. “Our children, families and communities deserve gun-free streets, and gun manufacturers must be held accountable for their role in this crisis. Almost every industry is held responsible when people are injured or killed by their products — guns they should not differ.” said the governor. CNN reached out to several gun manufacturers for comment on the new law. The state has also made available $156 million in gun violence prevention grants to support nearly 80 cities and nonprofits implement anti-violence programs tailored to their local communities. High-profile shootings — including a racially motivated mass shooting at a Buffalo, New York supermarket that targeted the black community and the Uvalde, Texas, elementary school massacre that killed 19 students and their two teachers — reignited national conversations on gun legislation. Last month, President Joe Biden signed into law a measure that was the most significant federal legislation to address gun violence since the 10-year ban on assault weapons in 1994, which expired in 2005. But the law did not ban any guns. In California, Rep. Phil Ting, who authored the bill, said cracking down on gun manufacturers “may finally force them to step up to reduce gun violence by preventing illegal sales and theft.” “Gun violence is now the leading cause of death among children and teenagers in the United States, surpassing automobile accidents. I see no better argument for stronger gun safety laws,” Ting said. “For too long, the firearms industry has enjoyed federal immunity from civil lawsuits, giving them no incentive to follow our laws.”
