OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, released the following statement applauding Senate lawmakers for passing common-sense gun safety legislation during yesterday’s session. The measure, SB 5078 which now goes to the House, focuses on increasing accountability within the firearm industry. The legislation seeks to create a new provision under state law to allow lawsuits against gun manufacturers and dealers whose misconduct harms Washington residents.
“As guns continue to be the leading cause of death of our children, it’s time to hold the gun industry accountable for their role in the gun violence crisis,” said Rebecca Elbaum, the Chapter Leader of the Washington chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Our communities are being devastated by gun violence while the gun industry is profiting from pouring deadly weapons onto our streets. We are proud to stand with our gun sense champions at the Senate for passing this bill, and look forward to working with our leaders in the House to make this bill law.”
Since 2005, federal law has shielded gun manufacturers and dealers from most lawsuits – unlike any other industry in this country, the firearm industry has been shielded from accountability for business practices that threaten public safety and put lives at risk. In contrast, it is impossible to deny how the firearm industry has helped worsen gun violence by making their products more dangerous over the years — highlighting the need for gun industry accountability at the national level.
As we await further legislative action on gun violence prevention bills, Washington Moms Demand Action and Student Demand Action Volunteers will continue to advocate for measures that continue to make Washington a national leader in the fight against gun violence, while holding the gun industry accountable.
Statistics about gun violence in Washington are available here, and Everytown’s Gun Law Rankings – which shows how Washington’s gun laws compare to those of other states – is available here. If you are interested in speaking with a Washington Moms Demand Action or Students Demand Action volunteer, please reach out to [email protected].
