California bill would hold gunmakers liable for injuries or deaths

The legislation is modeled after a first-in-the-nation New York law that declares such violations a public nuisance'

Some Democratic California lawmakers want to make it easier for people to sue gun companies for liability in shootings that cause injuries or deaths, a move advocates say is aimed at getting around a US law that prevents such lawsuits and allows the industry to act recklessly.

In general, when someone is injured or killed by gunfire it's very hard for the victim or their family to hold the gun manufacturer or dealer responsible by suing them and making them pay damages. A federal law prevents most of those types of lawsuits.