June 10, 2026
NSSF Factsheet: Protecting America’s “Arsenal of Democracy”: Strengthening the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA)
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NSSF Factsheet: Protecting America's "Arsenal of Democracy": Strengthening the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA)
Since the enactment of Public Law No: 109-92 (PLCAA), frivolous lawsuits against firearm, ammunition and component part manufacturers for the criminal misuse of their legally sold products have nevertheless continued with the intent of bankrupting the industry, in clear defiance of the will of Congress to provide the industry with broad immunity against such suits.
The PLCAA was enacted by a broad bipartisan margin in response to the dozens of frivolous lawsuits orchestrated and largely funded by gun control groups solely to put gun companies out of business based on criminal misuse of their products by third parties entirely beyond their control.
Despite political rhetoric to the contrary, the PLCAA does not grant the firearm and ammunition industry so-called “blanket immunity” from suit different than that enjoyed by other industries. Under the PLCAA, the industry can still be sued under on established, legally recognized theories of liability.
Improvements to the PLCAA are needed to ensure that the U.S. firearm industry can fulfill its critical role in equipping our warfighters, law enforcement, and law-abiding Americans for the next 250+ years.
