CA Senate Passes Bill that Allows Private Citizens to Sue Gun Sellers

Under the gun law, when a shooting creates damages of more than $10,000, people can sue manufacturers or distributors for every part of the guns.

On April 5, the California Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 1327, which allows private citizens to bring civil action against people who distribute or import certain types of guns. These include .50 BMG (Browning machine guns), ghost guns, ghost gun kits and what the bill refers to as “assault weapons,” which generally means guns that are automatic or semi-automatic. The bill is based on Texas’ controversial anti-abortion bill, which allows private citizens to sue abortion providers. Under the gun law, when a shooting creates damages of more than $10,000, people can sue manufacturers or distributors for every part of the guns. 

The bill is part of a larger package of gun control legislation supported by Gov. Gavin Newsom. These include Assembly Bill 1594, which allows both private citizens and the California Attorney General to sue manufacturers and sellers of guns, and AB 257, which would restrict marketing of guns to minors.