Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) signed a series of gun control bills on Friday that include legislation regulating firearm manufacturers’ liability, ghost guns, and partners of individuals charged with misdemeanor domestic violence.
The legislation, approved by Virginia’s Democratic-controlled General Assembly, includes a bill that allows gun manufacturers and dealers to be held legally accountable for “negligent” business practices leading to gun violence, a move gun rights activists call dangerous.
The measure creates a legal pathway for victims to sue companies that fail to implement reasonable safeguards in the sale and distribution of firearms.
Philip Van Cleave, the president of Virginia Citizens Defense League, said the new law making manufacturers and dealers liable for gun violence creates a path for not only dealers, but also gun accessory sellers to be subject to lawsuits.
“This one basically allows frivolous lawsuits against anybody for doing anything with firearms,” Van Cleave said. “Doesn’t mean you’re a gun manufacturer. Doesn’t even mean you’re a gun dealer. You could be making holsters. You could be making a strap for a rifle.”
Van Cleave said the legislation only hurts business owners and has no real effect on public safety.
“They’re not really trying to make the public safe,” he said.
— Claire Carter in Spanberger makes manufacturers liable for gun violence in gun control blitz