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United States · Bill · S

S. 659 (108th)

Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

19 March 2003

Last action

20 March 2003 · Introduced

Status

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4169)

Sponsors

Rep. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID-1], Rep. Baucus, Max [D-MT-1], Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN], Sen. Allard, Wayne [R-CO], Sen. Allen, George [R-VA], Sen. Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT], Sen. Bond, Christopher S. [R-MO], Rep. Breaux, John B. [D-LA-7], Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS], Rep. Bunning, Jim [R-KY-4], Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT], Rep. Campbell, Ben Nighthorse [D-CO-3], Sen. Chambliss, Saxby [R-GA], Rep. Cochran, Thad [R-MS-4], Sen. Coleman, Norm [R-MN], Susan Collins, John Cornyn, Mike Crapo, Sen. Dole, Elizabeth [R-NC], Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM], Rep. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND-At Large], Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV], Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY], Sen. Frist, William H. [R-TN], Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC], Chuck Grassley, Rep. Gregg, Judd [R-NH-2], Sen. Hagel, Chuck [R-NE], Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT], Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX], Rep. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK-1], Rep. Johnson, Tim [D-SD-At Large], Rep. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ-4], Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA], Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR], Rep. Lott, Trent [R-MS-5], Mitch McConnell, Sen. Miller, Zell [D-GA], Lisa Murkowski, Sen. Nelson, Ben [D-NE], Sen. Nickles, Don [R-OK], Sen. Reid, Harry [D-NV], Rep. Roberts, Pat [R-KS-1], Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA], Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL], Sen. Shelby, Richard C. [D-AL], Sen. Smith, Gordon H. [R-OR], Sen. Specter, Arlen [R-PA]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

10 August 2026

Summary

Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act - Prohibits any qualified civil liability action from being brought in any State or Federal court and requires pending actions to be dismissed. Defines such an action to: (1) include an action brought against a manufacturer or seller of a firearm, ammunition, or a component of a firearm that has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce, or against a trade association of such manufacturers or sellers, for damages resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of a firearm; and (2) exclude an action brought against persons who transfer a firearm knowing that it will be used to commit a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime; an action brought against a seller for negligent entrustment or negligence per se; an action in which a manufacturer or seller of a firearm willfully violated a State or Federal statute applicable to the sale or marketing of the firearm and the violation was a proximate cause of the harm for which relief is sought; an action for breach of contract or warranty in connection with the purchase of the firearm; or an action for physical injuries or property damage resulting directly from a defect in design or manufacture of the firearm when used as intended.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 19 March 2003

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3998-3999

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 19 March 2003

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3997-3998)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 19 March 2003

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 20 March 2003

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4169)

    Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Sponsors

Showing 48 of 56 sponsors and actors.

Related records

Sources

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