S. 659
108th Congress
Senate
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act
Official title: A bill to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition… Show full official titleShow less
Official title: A bill to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages resulting from the misuse of their products by others.
Law
AmmunitionCivil actions and liabilityCommerceCrime and Law Enforcement
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
District courtsFirearmsFirearms injuriesGovernment Operations and PoliticsHealthJurisdictionLiability (Law)Products liabilityRetail tradeState courtsTortsTrade associations
Everywhere this bill has been
4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 20, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4169)
Mar 19, 2003
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3998-3999
Mar 19, 2003
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3997-3998)
Mar 19, 2003
Introduced in Senate
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Latest action
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4169)
Plain-English summary
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act - Prohibits any qualified civil liability action from being brought in any State or Federal court and requires pending actions to be dismissed. Defines such an action to: (1) include an action brought against a manufacturer or seller of a firearm, ammunition, or a component of a firearm that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce, or against a trade association of such manufacturers or sellers, for damages resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of a firearm; and (2) exclude an action brought against persons who transfer a firearm knowing that it will be used to commit a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime; an action brought against a seller for negligent entrustment or negligence per se; an action in which a manufacturer or seller of a firearm willfully violated a State or Federal statute applicable to the sale or marketing of the firearm and the violation was a proximate cause of the harm for which relief is sought; an action for breach of contract or warranty in connection with the purchase of the firearm; or an action for physical injuries or property damage resulting directly from a defect in design or manufacture of the firearm when used as intended.
Related & companion bills
1
Bill text
1 version
- Introduced in Senate Formatted Text PDF
Committees of jurisdiction
1
Cite this page
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 659: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. 108th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-659/
"S. 659: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act." 108th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-659/.
S. 659, 108th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-659/.
[S. 659: Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/108-S-659/)