Massachusett’s Bill Opens Door to Lawsuits Against Gun Shops

Gun shops in Massachusetts are facing a new legislative threat: a bill that would allow citizens to sue them directly.

Senate Bill 1653, known as the Gun Violence Victims Access to Justice Act, would permit individuals or families affected by crimes involving firearms to file civil lawsuits against gun manufacturers and dealers for alleged “negligence.” This legal tactic, holding the firearm industry liable for criminal misuse, is gaining traction across the country.

Instead of focusing on punishing criminals, the bill shifts responsibility to manufacturers and dealers, requiring them to take undefined “reasonable steps” to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands. If someone believes those steps weren’t taken, they can sue.

This is the latest in a long line of so-called “common sense” gun control measures pushed by the anti-gun left. But behind the rhetoric lies a broader agenda: dismantling the Second Amendment through backdoor legal warfare.

Lawsuits like these are a strategic weapon. They don’t need to win in court to do damage; just the cost of defending against them can drive small gun shops and manufacturers out of business. That’s the point.