An Act making firearm owners civilly liable for damage caused by lost or stolen firearms
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill proposes to hold firearm owners in Massachusetts liable for damages resulting from the loss or theft of their firearms. If a firearm is stolen and subsequently used in a crime, the owner could be held responsible for the resulting damages. The bill aims to incentivize responsible firearm storage and ownership practices within the state.
Key provisions
- Firearm owners may be held liable for damages caused by lost or stolen firearms.
- Liability could apply if the stolen firearm is used in a crime.
- The bill seeks to establish a legal framework for compensating victims of crimes involving stolen firearms.
- The bill’s impact on firearm ownership and storage practices is anticipated.
- It is modeled after a similar bill passed in 2017-2018.
- The bill is currently being reviewed by the House Steering, Policy and Scheduling Committee.
Who is affected
- Firearm owners in Massachusetts
- Victims of crimes involving stolen firearms
- Law enforcement agencies
- The firearm industry
- The legal system
Notable changes
- This bill introduces civil liability for firearm owners, a potential shift from criminal prosecution.
- It builds upon previous legislation addressing firearm-related liability.
Bill text
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Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
4 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
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