{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-jason-crow-makes-hard-fought-progress-on-gun-safety-bill-on-10th-anniversary-of-the-aurora-theater-shooting", "Congressman Jason Crow Makes Hard-Fought Progress on Gun Safety Bill on 10th Anniversary of the Aurora Theater Shooting", "2022-07-21", "2022", "2022-07", "Democrat", "House", "CO", "Jason Crow", "C001121", "crow.house.gov", "crow", "https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 Congressman Jason Crow (CO-06) late last night, on the 10th anniversary of the Aurora Theater Shooting, made hard-fought progress on his gun safety bill repealing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act to ensure the gun industry \u2013 including manufacturers, sellers, and interest groups \u2013 is not shielded from liability when it acts with negligence and disregard for public safety.\n\nLast night, the House Judiciary Committee voted to advance Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Dwight Evans\u2019 (D-PA) Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act, clearing the way for it to be scheduled for a vote on the House floor. Along with House Judiciary\u2019s markup yesterday of the Assault Weapons Ban of 2021, this represents one of the most significant congressional acts in a decade on two of gun safety advocates\u2019 top legislative priorities.\n\n\u201cThe gun violence epidemic is killing our kids and families. With other industries \u2013 like Big Pharma or Big Tobacco \u2013 the American people can hold bad actors accountable for negligent behavior by taking them to court, but PLCAA shields gun manufacturers and sellers from liability. This bill repealing PLCAA is another important step to finally loosen the grip the gun lobby has on our lives. I\u2019m grateful to continue this long-overdue momentum as we build on the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act with additional commonsense reforms,\u201d said Congressman Crow.\n\n\u201cIn 2020, for the first time ever, firearms were the leading cause of death for young people in America. Congress long ago gave the gun industry blanket immunity from any liability \u2013 even when their negligence resulted in death \u2013 leaving manufacturers and dealers with no incentive to adopt safe business practices and leaving victims and their families with no legal recourse,\u201d said Congressman Schiff. \u201cThe gun lobby has enjoyed this unique status for nearly two decades, but now we have the opportunity to put an end to it. And we must seize it. I look forward to my bill, along with the Assault Weapons Banof 2021, being put to a vote, and I urge my colleagues to pass them both so we can save lives.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs someone who\u2019s advocated this concept in Pennsylvania\u2019s legislature and now in Congress, I\u2019m proud to be an original co-sponsor of Chairman Schiff\u2019s bill to restore this basic right of victims and survivors. So many American gun deaths could be avoided if we held these companies accountable for illegal sales and/or defective guns. State attorneys general were able to hold Big Tobacco accountable in the 1990s, and they should be able to hold gun manufacturing companies accountable in the 21st century since thousands of lives depend on it. This legislation would be another tool in the toolbox to protect our citizens from gun violence,\u201d said Congressman Evans.\n\nThe Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act will allow civil cases to go forward against irresponsible actors in state and federal courts \u2013 just as they would if they involved any other product \u2013 and give victims of gun violence and their families their day in court. The bill also incentivizes responsible business practices to reduce gun injuries and deaths.\n\nIn 2005, a Republican-controlled Congress passed PLCAA, providing immunity for gun manufacturers, distributors, and dealers that protects them from most negligence and product liability actions in both state and federal court. Despite guns\u2019 lethal capacity, the firearm industry enjoys a special shield from civil liability. As a result, gun makers and sellers have a less obligation to act with reasonable care for the safety of the public. It also means that gun sellers can turn a blind eye to straw purchasers or traffickers who may buy hundreds of weapons and traffic them to others without background checks.\n\nPresident Biden also urged Congress to take up and immediately pass the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act during his March State of the Union address.\n\nClick here to read the full bill text, and click here for a fact sheet.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:49:02Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://crow.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-jason-crow-makes-hard-fought-progress-on-gun-safety-bill-on-10th-anniversary-of-the-aurora-theater-shooting"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.649957150220871, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}