Lamont Signs Connecticut Gun Law Allowing Lawsuits Against Firearm Makers, Sellers

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont signed a new gun control bill into law that places the marketers of firearms clearly in the crosshairs.

"This law is just one more step as we try and make sure that it's not just Connecticut law enforcement doing all the enforcing; we hold the manufacturers and sales people accountable as well," Lamont told reporters on shortly after the bill's signing Thursday.

And it's the manufacturers and resellers who are the target. Effective Oct. 1, both groups will be vulnerable to lawsuits if they fail to implement "reasonable controls."

Specifically, the law aims to bar the in-state sale or distribution of firearms and certain related products to prohibited individuals, such as straw purchasers or those legally barred from possessing firearms, or in a manner that could reasonably be expected to lead to their conversion into illegal products. It also seeks to ensure compliance with existing firearm-related laws and places restrictions on members of the firearm industry, including a ban on knowingly advertising products in a way that promotes unlawful sales, illegal use or poses an unreasonable risk to public safety.

The legislation allows a person who has suffered harm due to a violation, a municipality, or the state to sue a firearm industry member under these provisions.

Related: How CT Changed Its Gun Laws After Sandy Hook Shooting

Republican State House Minority Leader Rep. Vincent Candelora (District 86) called the bill a "trial lawyer's dream" back in April when it was first debated in Hartford. He is even less of a fan following its signing this week.

"I think the danger is that we are casting a wider net on people (who) could be sued," Candelora said Thursday.

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The new law has a long and storied history. Legislation passed following the Sandy Hook tragedy cleared new ground for marketing-based lawsuits filed against the firearms industry. Ultimately, gun manufacturer Remington found itself on the costly side of a $73 million settlement in 2022. That same year, a Highland Park Shooting Victim filed a lawsuit alleging that Smith & Wesson’s advertising "gamify the use of firearms in real life" and "glorify the lone gunman."

Related: Gun Group Sues To Challenge CT's Post-Sandy Hook Gun Control Law

Written testimony from gun shop owners, sporting club owners, and sportsmen in Connecticut outnumbered testimony in support of the new legislation by nearly 20 to 1. They warned the law could swiftly shut businesses down through unmanageable insurance costs or frivolous lawsuits.