“A Historic Day for New York and the Country,” Brady Celebrates Passage of Bill Removing Special Protections for Firearms Industry

Washington, D.C., June 10, 2021 - Today, Brady celebrates the historic passage of S.7196 and A.6762B, a bill to allow manufacturers, distributors, and dealers to be held responsible when they choose to profit off of the criminal gun market and irresponsibly contribute to gun violence. This bill is the first of its kind in the nation and will create a powerful incentive for gun industry actors to reform irresponsible practices and prevent gun violence by classifying negligent or illegal gun sales or marketing practices as a public nuisance. Brady thanks sponsors Senator Zellnor Myrie and Assemblymember Patricia Fahy for introducing, championing, and shepherding this legislation.

Brady President Kris Brown shared:

“The gun industry continues to enjoy special and unprecedented protections from accountability for its role in fueling gun violence. Thankfully, New York is leading the way in clarifying the law and ensuring that negligent or deliberately irresponsible members of the gun industry are not shielded from justice. Thanks to this law, New York can ensure that gun industry actors who are responsible for fueling gun violence can be held accountable for their actions. This is a historic day for New York and for the country. Brady thanks the sponsors of this bill, Senator Zellnor Myrie and Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, for ensuring that this needed bill heads to Gov. Cuomo’s desk. We urge the governor to sign this without delay. It will save lives.”

State Senator Zelnor Myrie shared:

"Earlier this year, New York became the first state in the nation to declare gun violence a public health crisis. And like any other public health crisis, we must act swiftly and thoughtfully to address it. With shootings on the rise, especially in communities of color across New York State, it is long past time to take strong action against irresponsible gun manufacturers and dealers who profit from weapons that end up on our streets. Federal law has shielded the most reckless actors in this industry for far too long. By passing this critical legislation, we're putting the victims and survivors of this violence on a more level playing field with this billion-dollar industry. I am so grateful to Assemblywoman Fahy, Leader Stewart-Cousins, and the tireless advocacy of groups like Brady who made this bill's passage possible."

Assemblymember Patricia Fahy shared:

“Over 74% of all guns recovered from violent crimes and shootings in New York are trafficked in from out-of-state. Right now, only one industry in the United States enjoys special protection from civil liability under federal law for negligence in the use of their products; the gun industry. Passing this landmark legislation will allow gun manufacturers knowingly utilizing bad actors and dealers to market their products to be held civilly liable for the damage they cause on our streets. We have always led the nation on gun legislation — and we aren’t letting up now to help keep New Yorkers safe from the scourge of gun violence. I thank Senator Myrie for his strong partnership on this legislation, Speaker Heastie, my legislative colleagues, and gun violence prevention advocates like Brady for helping to pass the Gun Industry Liability Law; it is one of if not the most effective tools we can leverage in the fight against gun violence this year in New York State.”

About S.7196 and A.6762B:

S.7196 and A.6762B impose accountability on those responsible for the illegal or unreasonable sale, manufacture, distribution, importing, or marketing of firearms that creates a public nuisance and harm to the public.

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Brady has one powerful mission — to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It’s in our hands.


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