Connecticut should adopt two critical bills. HB 7042  would end the extraordinary and dangerous level of legal protection firearms enjoy, and HB 7137 would ensure people who move to Connecticut from out of state are held to the same background standards as current Connecticut state residents. N ationally and in Connecticut, the firearm industry is protected by the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which shields manufacturers and dealers from liability, even when negligence results in injury or death. Firearms are also exempt from regulation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, meaning no mandatory safety standards apply. This lack of oversight and accountability creates a dangerous environment—one where manufacturers have little incentive to improve safety, issue warnings, or design products that help prevent harm. Both federal and Connecticut laws mandate background checks for firearm purchases from licensed dealers. Individuals convicted of felonies, certain misdemeanors (including domestic violence), or with disqualifying mental health histories cannot legally purchase firearms. However, loopholes exist. In Connecticut a disqualifying offense committed in another jurisdiction, if not a federal crime, does not prevent an individual from purchasing a firearm in this state. Jennifer Necci Dineen Connecticut can address these public safety gaps by passing two critical bills currently under consideration in the state’s Joint Committee on the Judiciary,  HB 7042, An Act Concerning Implementation of the Firearm Industry Responsibility, and HB 7137, An Act Concerning a Conviction in Another Jurisdiction as a Disqualifier for a Carry Permit or Firearms Eligibility Certificate. HB 7042: Restoring accountability in the gun industry History has shown that industry liability is an effective tool for improving health and safety outcomes for products that, through negligence, accident, or misuse, can cause harm. Even when manufacturers do not volunteer to enhance safety measures, we have seen litigation drive improvements. Lawsuits regarding fuel tank fires in the Ford Pinto led Ford to recall and modify the vehicle. More recently, product liability lawsuits forced pharmaceutical companies to change business practices in regard to opioid advertising, warnings, and distribution. The firearm industry, due to PLCAA, has been largely exempt from the pressures of liability. HB 7042 would help close this gap in Connecticut by creating mechanisms for holding gun companies accountable when their products contribute to unlawful harm—mirroring strategies already proven effective. Connecticut is not alone in considering such legislation. Currently 10 states have similar laws. Consider New York’s experience. In 2021, the state enacted the Gun Industry Accountability Act, and within its first year, used the law to target and shut down venues involved in illegal trafficking and straw purchases. This approach works: by aligning legal and economic incentives, states can compel the firearm industry to take proactive steps toward safety. HB 7137: Strengthening background checks to prevent gun migration HB 7137 addresses a different, but equally dangerous problem: the interstate flow of firearms from states with weak gun laws into those with stronger protections. Currently, individuals with disqualifying convictions in other states —such as protective orders or certain misdemeanors— may still be eligible for a firearm permit in Connecticut. This is not always the case with licensure. For example, under the interstate Driver License Compact, someone whose license is revoked in another state for DUI or evading police cannot simply cross the state line and obtain a Connecticut driver’s license.  A 2022 study in JAMA Network Open demonstrates how permissive firearm laws in one state significantly increase firearm-related deaths in neighboring states. The researchers found that licensing requirements for gun purchases not only reduce deaths within a state but also have measurable spillover benefits for surrounding states —cutting firearm-related homicide and suicide rates across borders. This is especially relevant for Connecticut, which borders multiple states and lies at the crossroads of the Tri-State and New England regions. By ensuring that individuals with out-of-state convictions are held to the same standards as our state’s residents and disqualified from obtaining permits in Connecticut, HB 7137 acknowledges the very real risks posed by firearm migration. Research shows that states with stronger firearm regulations have less gun injury and death. By passing HB 7042 and HB 7137, evidence suggests Connecticut will: Incentivize safer business practices in the firearm industry. Prevent gun trafficking and reduce gun violence across state lines. Close dangerous legal loopholes. We cannot afford to treat firearms as immune to the basic principles of public health, consumer safety, and corporate accountability. Connecticut, again, has a chance to lead. I strongly urge the House Judiciary Committee and then the Connecticut General Assembly to pass HB 7042 and HB 7137 —and to show the rest of the country what responsible gun policy looks like. Jennifer Necci Dineen, PhD is the Associate Director of the Center for Advancing Research Methods and Scholarship in Gun Injury Prevention (ARMS) at the University of Connecticut. She is also an Associate Professor of Public Policy at The Institute for Collaboration on Health, Intervention, and Policy (InCHIP) and a member of the Connecticut Chapter of the Scholars Strategy Network. ...read more read less