On May 25, during consideration of a bill (H.R. 800) to protect firearm manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers from liability, Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA) offered an amendment that would have allowed victims of domestic violence to bring a lawsuit against a dealer who knowingly sold a firearm to someone who had been convicted or has a history of domestic violence. The House Judiciary Committee rejected the amendment, 14-21, along with a number of other Democratic amendments.
In a press release after the mark-up, Rep. Sanchez said that the amendment “makes sense. It strikes a good balance between protecting women from violence and appeasing the supporters of H.R. 800 who believe there are excessive lawsuits against the gun industry.”
