Senators Scramble To Stop Plan To Impose Federal Gun Bans

The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee reports Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and 15 Senate Republicans have introduced the Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts (SHOT) Act.  To “strengthen the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), providing the firearms industry enhanced protection against frivolous lawsuits brought by liberal anti-gun groups.”

“The Second Amendment is a fundamental right established by our Founding Fathers. Unfortunately, that hasn’t stopped leftist organizations, special interest groups and foreign governments from attempting to strip Americans of their right to bear arms, including through baseless litigation intended to bankrupt the firearms industry,” Grassley said. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the SHOT Act, which will put a stop to these frivolous lawsuits and help protect Americans’ constitutional rights.”

“I am a proud supporter of the PLCAA, which protects our firearms industry from the constant onslaught of frivolous attacks by the Radical Left, progressive officials, and rogue activist judges,” said Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who previously backed major gun ban bills. “This legislation would strengthen the PLCAA to ensure it can continue to defend law-abiding Americans’ Second Amendment rights against anti-gun groups’ evolving tactics, and I urge the Senate to bring it to the floor for a vote as soon as possible.”

The SHOT Act is cosponsored by Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Curtis (R-Utah), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.).

According to the Committee:

The PLCAA was signed into law in 2005 to combat frivolous lawsuits brought against the firearms industry by radical anti-gun groups. These bogus lawsuits – premised solely on the actions of third parties who misuse firearms in a manner beyond the industry’s control – sought to bankrupt the firearms industry. In response, the PLCAA provided the firearms industry with basic immunity protections from baseless litigation that many other American industries enjoy.

Since its enactment, anti-gun groups, progressive politicians and rogue judges have ignored the plain text of the PLCAA and chipped away at its protections. For example, in Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc. v. Estados Unidos Mexicanos, Mexico filed a lawsuit against firearms manufacturers alleging that they caused cartel violence. The district court judge hearing the case dismissed the suit under the PLCAA, but a panel of liberal judges on the First Circuit ignored the PLCAA’s text and reversed the lower court, necessitating the Supreme Court’s involvement.?While a unanimous Supreme Court emphatically dismissed the suit, the litigation cost firearms manufacturers an exorbitant amount in legal fees.

In March 2026, Grassley joined an amicus brief, led by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), urging the Supreme Court to reaffirm and protect the PLCAA.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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