Gov. JB Pritzker signs new law allowing victims of gun violence to sue gun makers
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A new Illinois law is making it easier for victims of gun violence to sue gun makers. Gov. JB Prtizker signed it into law Saturday afternoon.
Pritzker talked about the law while on stage at the Everytown for Gun Safety conference at McCormick Place. His appearance at the conference comes just one day after the state Supreme Court upheld another controversial law banning the sale of so-called assault weapons in the state.
That law also bans the sale and distribution of high capacity magazines and switches that can turn semi-automatic guns into automatic weapons.
The new move, the Firearm Industry Responsibility Act, bans advertising or marketing that encourages paramilitary or unlawful private militia activity. It bans advertising firearms to people under 18 and limits the kinds of imagery that can be used in ads. And it allows people to sue manufacturers.
Pritzker said this law follows standards set in other industries.
"We hold opioid manufacturers accountable," he said. "We hold vaping companies accountable. We hold predatory lenders accountable. Gun manufacturers shouldn't get to hide from law, and now they won't be able to."
Pritzker delivered this news to a crowd of more than 2,000 people, many from Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action.
"Today we are going to take yet another powerful step towards ending gun violence, and this time we're going after the source," he said.
"If this works and it's approved by the courts, I think it'll be adopted by a lot of states," said CBS 2 Legal Analyst Irv Miller.
Miller called the legislation creative in its approach, though gun rights activitsts are predictably opposed to the idea.
"It is really a bill to harass gun manufacturers," said Richard Pearson with the Illinois State Rifle Association. "No gun manufacturer I know of would do anything like this, but it opens them up to frivolous lawsuits, which is designed to bankrupt them in one way or another."
The state is ready to defend the new law in court.
"What this law does is clarify that the firearm industry, like any other business, must comply with the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Practices Act," said Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
But regulations enforced in other industries might not apply to weapon manufacturing for one key reason.
"Those other products that you just mentioned aren't mentioned in the Constitution. Prohibitions, that has always been the roadblock, the Second Amendment," said Miller.
Seven other states have adopted similar plans. Miller said that it will be months or even years before we know if this will stand in court.
Pritzker has said his firearms legislation is a result of the shooting in Highland Park last year.
