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United States · Law · S

S. 397 (109th)

Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

16 February 2005

Last action

26 October 2005 · President

Status

Became Public Law No: 109-92.

Sponsors

Sen. Craig, Larry E. [R-ID], Sen. Baucus, Max [D-MT], Sen. Alexander, Lamar [R-TN], Sen. Bunning, Jim [R-KY], Sen. Burns, Conrad R. [R-MT], Sen. Chambliss, Saxby [R-GA], Sen. Coburn, Tom [R-OK], Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME], Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM], Sen. Ensign, John [R-NV], Sen. Enzi, Michael B. [R-WY], Sen. Hutchison, Kay Bailey [R-TX], Sen. Inhofe, James M. [R-OK], Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA], Sen. Johnson, Tim [D-SD], Sen. Kyl, Jon [R-AZ], Sen. Lincoln, Blanche L. [D-AR], Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK], Sen. Nelson, Ben [D-NE], Sen. Santorum, Rick [R-PA], Sen. Sessions, Jeff [R-AL], Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME], Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK], Sen. Thomas, Craig [R-WY], Sen. Thune, John [R-SD], Sen. Sununu, John E. [R-NH], Sen. Allen, George [R-VA], Sen. Vitter, David [R-LA], Sen. Landrieu, Mary L. [D-LA], Sen. DeMint, Jim [R-SC], Sen. Dole, Elizabeth [R-NC], Sen. Dorgan, Byron L. [D-ND], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Gregg, Judd [R-NH], Sen. Hagel, Chuck [R-NE], Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT], Sen. Lott, Trent [R-MS], Sen. Frist, William H. [R-TN], Sen. Talent, Jim [R-MO], Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC], Sen. Allard, Wayne [R-CO], Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS], Sen. Martinez, Mel [R-FL], Sen. Shelby, Richard C. [R-AL], Sen. Brownback, Sam [R-KS], Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

9 March 2026

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act - Prohibits a qualified civil liability action from being brought in any State or Federal court 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, punitive damages, injunctive or declaratory relief, abatement, restitution, fines, or penalties, or other relief, resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of a firearm. Requires pending actions to be dismissed. Excludes actions: (1) brought against persons who transfer a firearm knowing that it will be used to commit a crime of violence or a drug trafficking crime, by a party directly harmed by such crime; (2) brought against a seller for negligent entrustment or negligence per se; (3) in which a manufacturer or seller of a firearm knowingly 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; (4) for breach of contract or warranty in connection with the purchase of the firearm; or (5) for death, physical injuries, or property damage resulting directly from a defect in design or manufacture of the firearm when used as intended or in a reasonably foreseeable manner, except that where the discharge was caused by a volitional act that constituted a criminal offense, such act shall be considered the sole proximate cause of any resulting death, personal injuries, or property damage.

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

Timeline

  1. 16 February 2005

    Introduced

    Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1529-1530)

    Source: Calendars

  2. 16 February 2005

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1529)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 16 February 2005

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 17 February 2005

    Calendars

    Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 15.

    Source: Calendars

  5. 22 July 2005

    Floor

    Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate.

    Source: Floor

  6. 26 July 2005

    Vote

    Cloture on the Motion to proceed to the bill invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 66 - 32. Record Vote Number: 206. (consideration: CR S8908-8909)

    Source: Floor

  7. 27 July 2005

    Floor

    Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (consideration: CR S9059-9086)

    Source: Floor

  8. 28 July 2005

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S9217-9244)

    Source: Floor

  9. 29 July 2005

    Floor

    Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S9374-9398)

    Source: Floor

  10. 29 July 2005

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with amendments by Yea-Nay. 65 - 31. Record Vote Number: 219.

    Source: Floor

  11. 6 September 2005

    Floor

    Held at the desk.

    Source: Floor

  12. 6 September 2005

    Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

    Source: Floor

  13. 6 September 2005

    Floor

    Received in the House.

    Source: Floor

  14. 17 October 2005

    Reported

    Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 493 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of S. 397 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.

    Source: Floor

  15. 18 October 2005

    Passed

    Rule H. Res. 493 passed House.

    Source: Floor

  16. 20 October 2005

    Action

    Cleared for White House.

  17. 20 October 2005

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  18. 20 October 2005

    Vote

    On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 283 - 144 (Roll no. 534). (text: CR H8990-8992)

    Source: Floor

  19. 20 October 2005

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 283 - 144 (Roll no. 534).(text: CR H8990-8992)

    Source: Floor

  20. 20 October 2005

    Floor

    The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H9010)

    Source: Floor

  21. 20 October 2005

    Floor

    Rule provides for consideration of S. 397 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Measure will be considered read. Bill is closed to amendments.

    Source: Floor

  22. 20 October 2005

    Floor

    Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 493. (consideration: CR H8990-9011)

    Source: Floor

  23. 25 October 2005

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  24. 25 October 2005

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  25. 26 October 2005

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 109-92.

    Source: President

  26. 26 October 2005

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  27. 26 October 2005

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

Votes

29 July 2005 · Bill Passed · On Passage of the Bill S. 397 · Bill Passed · Official source

Yes 65 · No 31 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 4

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

26 July 2005 · Cloture Motion Agreed to · On the Cloture Motion S. 397 · Cloture Motion Agreed to · Official source

Yes 66 · No 32 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 2

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

Versions

Documents

12 official files

Enrolled Bill (text)

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  • Enrolled Bill (text)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Enrolled Bill (PDF)

    Enrolled Bill · EN

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  • Public Law (text)

    Public Law · EN · 26 October 2005

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  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 26 October 2005

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  • Public Law

    summary · EN · 26 October 2005

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  • Passed House without amendment

    summary · EN · 20 October 2005

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  • Engrossed in Senate (text)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 29 July 2005

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  • Engrossed in Senate (PDF)

    Engrossed in Senate · EN · 29 July 2005

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  • Passed Senate amended

    summary · EN · 29 July 2005

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  • Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

    Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 17 February 2005

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  • Placed on Calendar Senate (PDF)

    Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 17 February 2005

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  • Introduced in Senate

    summary · EN · 16 February 2005

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