Dingell Introduces Legislation to Address Safety Defects that Allow Firearms to Discharge Without Pulling the Trigger

U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) reintroduced the Defective Firearms Protection Act, a bill that would address safety defects in firearms similarly to any other consumer product by issuing safety warnings and recalls if necessary. Currently, firearms are excluded from the definition of a consumer product, which prohibits the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)from addressing safety issues in firearms. The timing of the bill coincides with Gun Violence Prevention Month.

"Every product sold in America, except guns, is subject to federal health and safety regulations. This means that faulty firearms that misfire, discharge without a trigger pull, or fail in other ways that can kill, stay on shelves because nobody has the authority to pull them," said Congresswoman Dingell. "The Defective Firearms Protection Act would fix that, targeting defective weapons that should never be on the marketplace in the first place. No industry should be above basic safety standards, because a gun that doesn't work right is a danger to the person holding it and everyone around them."

The Defective Firearms Protection Act would help prevent such accidents by removing barriers in current law that prevent the CPSC from addressing defective pistols, revolvers, or firearms.

A copy of the bill text can be found HERE.