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6 Cosponsor:
Derrin Owens
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8 LONG TITLE
9 General Description:
10 This bill limits the liability of manufacturers and sellers of firearms and ammunition.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ enacts the Lawful Commerce in Arms Act;
14 ▸ creates definitions; and
15 ▸ limits the liability of manufacturers and sellers of firearms and ammunition to
16 specific situations.
17 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18 None
19 Other Special Clauses:
20 None
21 Utah Code Sections Affected:
22 ENACTS:
23 53-5d-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
24 53-5d-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
25 53-5d-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
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27 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
28 Section 1. Section 53-5d-101 is enacted to read:
29
30 53-5d-101. Title.
31 This chapter is known as the "Lawful Commerce in Arms Act."
32 Section 2. Section 53-5d-102 is enacted to read:
33 53-5d-102. Definitions.
34 As used in this chapter:
35 (1) "Ammunition" means a bullet, a cartridge case, primer, propellant powder, or other
36 ammunition designed for use in any firearm, either as an individual component part or in a
37 completely assembled cartridge.
38 (2) "Manufacturer" means, with respect to a qualified product, a person who is engaged
39 in the business of manufacturing a qualified product and who is licensed to engage in business
40 as a manufacturer under 18 U.S.C. Chapter 44.
41 (3) "Negligent entrustment" means the supplying of a qualified product by a seller for
42 use by another person when the seller knows, or reasonably should know, the person to whom
43 the product is supplied is likely to, and does, use the product in a manner involving
44 unreasonable risk of physical injury to the person or others.
45 (4) "Person" means the same as that term is defined in Section 68-3-12.5.
46 (5) (a) "Qualified civil liability action" means a civil action or proceeding or an
47 administrative proceeding brought by any person against a manufacturer or seller of a qualified
48 product, or a trade association, for damages, punitive damages, injunctive or declaratory relief,
49 abatement, restitution, fines, or penalties, or other relief, resulting from the criminal or
50 unlawful misuse of a qualified product by the person or a third party.
51 (b) "Qualified civil liability action" does not include:
52 (i) an action brought against a transferor convicted under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 924(h) or
53 Section 76-10-503 by a party directly harmed by the conduct of which the transferee was
54 convicted;
55 (ii) an action brought against a seller for negligent entrustment or negligence per se;
56 (iii) an action in which a manufacturer or seller of a qualified product knowingly
57 violated a state or federal statute applicable to the sale or marketing of the product, and the
58 violation was a proximate cause of the harm for which relief is sought, including:
59 (A) any incident in which the manufacturer or seller knowingly made any false entry
60 in, or failed to make appropriate entry in, any record required to be kept under federal or state
61 law with respect to the qualified product, or aided, abetted, or conspired with any person in
62 making any false or fictitious oral or written statement with respect to any fact material to the
63 lawfulness of the sale or other disposition of a qualified product; or
64 (B) any case in which the manufacturer or seller aided, abetted, or conspired with any
65 other person to sell or otherwise dispose of a qualified product, knowing, or having reasonable
66 cause to believe, that the actual buyer of the qualified product was prohibited from possessing
67 or receiving a firearm or ammunition under 18 U.S.C. Sec. 922(g) or (n) or Section 76-10-503;
68 (iv) an action for breach of contract or warranty in connection with the purchase of the
69 product;
70 (v) an action for death, physical injuries, or property damage resulting directly from a
71 defect in design or manufacture of the product, when used as intended or in a reasonably
72 foreseeable manner, except that where the discharge of the product was caused by a volitional
73 act that constituted a criminal offense, then the act shall be considered the sole proximate cause
74 of any resulting death, personal injuries, or property damage; or
75 (vi) an action or proceeding commenced to enforce the provisions of 18 U.S.C.
76 Chapter 44, 26 U.S.C. Chapter 53, or Title 76, Chapter 10, Part 5, Weapons.
77 (6) "Qualified product" means a firearm or antique firearm, as defined in Section
78 76-10-501, ammunition, or a component part of a firearm or ammunition.
79 (7) "Seller" means, with respect to a qualified product, a federal firearms licensee, as
80 defined in Section 76-10-501.
81 (8) "Trade association" means:
82 (a) any corporation, unincorporated association, federation, business league, or
83 professional or business organization not organized or operated for profit and no part of the net
84 earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual;
85 (b) an organization described in 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(c)(6) and exempt from tax under
86 26 U.S.C. Sec. 501(a); and
87 (c) an organization, two or more members of which are manufacturers or sellers of a
88 qualified product.
89 (9) "Unlawful misuse" means conduct that violates a statute, ordinance, or regulation
90 as it relates to the use of a qualified product.
91 Section 3. Section 53-5d-103 is enacted to read:
92 53-5d-103. Limitations on liability.
93 (1) A manufacturer or seller of a qualified product, or trade association, is not subject
94 to a qualified civil liability action regarding the unlawful misuse of a qualified product unless
95 an injury or death results from an act or omission of the manufacturer, seller, or trade
96 association that constitutes gross negligence, recklessness, or intentional misconduct.
97 (2) A civil liability action against a manufacturer, seller, or trade association that does
98 not allege any of the provisions of Subsection 53-5d-102(5)(b) shall be dismissed.