Senate Approves Bill to Protect Gun Manufacturers

State Sen. Jay Paul Gumm has won full Senate approval for a measure to give liability protection to gun manufacturers. Sen. Gumm said the language was based on a similar law in South Dakota’s statutes.

“This simply says that if a bad person takes a gun and shoots somebody, the gun manufacturer cannot be held liable for the criminal actions of that individual,” said Gumm. “It holds the manufacturer harmless.”

Gumm said the liability protection would not apply to manufacturers who build a defective product.

“Again, we are strictly talking about guns being used by a criminal to hurt someone. This makes sure the liability rests where it belongs—with the person who fires the gun and not the manufacturer.”

The Democrat Senator from Durant said his language was included as an amendment to Senate Bill 507 by Sen. Cliff Branan, R-Oklahoma City. SB 507 gives liability protection to volunteers providing transportation for charitable or non-profit organizations.

“I want to thank Senator Branan for allowing me to place this amendment in SB 507,” Gumm said. “I can tell you right now that we are in negotiations with a leading gun manufacturing company interested in bringing some very good-paying jobs to Oklahoma. I believe this legislation will help us make an even more favorable impression. If we are successful in these talks, it’s going to be good economic news for our state.”

SB 507 now moves to the House of Representatives.