$10 Billion Dismissed. $73 Million Paid. In 20 Years.
The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, signed in 2005, gives gun manufacturers, distributors, and dealers immunity from civil lawsuits when their products are used in crimes. No other industry in America has this legal shield.
$10 billion in claimed damages dismissed in Mexico’s case alone. $73 million is the only major payout in 20 years. 30+ lawsuits from cities were dismissed after PLCAA passed. The NRA called it “the most significant pro-gun legislation in twenty years.”
On June 5, 2025, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed Mexico’s $10 billion lawsuit against U.S. gun manufacturers for allegedly aiding firearms trafficking. The Court held that Mexico’s claims did not satisfy PLCAA’s narrow exceptions.
One Exception: Sandy Hook
In 2022, Remington’s insurers paid $73 million to Sandy Hook families, the largest payout by a gun company for a mass shooting ever. The families got around PLCAA using Connecticut’s unfair trade practices law, arguing Remington’s marketing (“Consider your man card reissued”) violated state consumer protection statutes.
That one case took years of litigation and a novel legal theory. It is the only crack in the shield in 20 years.
States Are Building Workarounds
Ten states have passed Firearm Industry Responsibility Acts that create state-level requirements for gun industry distribution, effectively enabling lawsuits despite PLCAA. In July 2025, the Second Circuit upheld New York’s law against an industry challenge. The American Bar Association called for PLCAA repeal in March 2026.
What You Can Do
- Support state gun safety legislation →
- Ask your state legislators to pass a Firearm Industry Responsibility Act.
- Read the Guns and Public Safety hub.