H.R. 3740

Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2025

Sponsor: Eric Swalwell

114 cosponsors
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Official summary

Written by the Congressional Research Service.

Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2025

This bill removes limitations on the civil liability of gun manufacturers and the disclosure of gun trace data in civil actions.

Specifically, the bill repeals the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which prohibits civil actions against a firearm or ammunition manufacturer, seller, importer, dealer, or trade association for damages resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of a firearm.

Additionally, the bill states that firearms trace data maintained by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is not immune from legal process. Such data is subject to discovery; is admissible as evidence; and may be used, relied on, or disclosed in a civil action or administrative proceeding.

Text of the bill

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Sec. 3. Discoverability and admissibility of gun trace information in civil proceedings

The contents of the Firearms Trace System database maintained by the National Trace Center of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives shall not be immune from legal process, shall be subject to subpoena or other discovery, shall be admissible as evidence, and may be used, relied on, or disclosed in any manner, and testimony or other evidence may be permitted based on the data, on the same basis as other information, in a civil action in any State (including the District of Columbia) or Federal court or in an administrative proceeding.