Throughout the nation, anti-gun states are trying to pass laws that will allow gun control activists to bypass the Protection of Lawful Commerce of Arms Act and permit lawsuits against the firearm industry.

The ultimate goal is to bankrupt the gun manufacturers and dealers so that we are denied the ability to buy guns without the need to pass controversial gun control legislation.

It’s stupid, but that’s what they’re doing.

And Tennessee is a state that just took an important step in preventing that from happening, one that the National Shooting Sports Foundation is pretty pleased with.

NSSF^®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, hails Tennessee’s Gov. Bill Lee for signing SB 1360 into law which brings added protections to the firearm industry and Second Amendment rights in the Volunteer State. The law protects the state’s growing firearm and ammunition industry from special-interest “lawfare” abuse of the judicial system against firearm and ammunition manufacturers, distributors and retailers. The legislation was approved by Tennessee’s General Assembly with an overwhelming majority.

“Governor Lee, and Tennessee’s lawmakers, are sending a clear message that gun control lawfare targeted against our industry, which is vital to Tennessee’s economy and the nation’s heritage of Second Amendment freedoms, will not be tolerated,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “Governor Lee’s commitment to the lawful commerce in arms and free exercise of the rights to keep and bear arms in Tennessee is demonstrated by the growth of firearm manufacturers moving to the state to grow their businesses. The firearm industry is grateful for state Representative Monty Fritts and state Senator Joe Hensley for shepherding this bill through the legislature and for Governor Lee’ leadership in signing these important protections into law.”

They go on to note that SB 1360 builds on the PLCAA’s protections for the firearm industry, which is a good thing in this day and age.

It’s just a shame that it’s needed. Unfortunately, it is.

The firearm industry provides a lot of jobs to the state, and that means Tennessee, like a lot of states, has a vested interest in protecting those jobs. Plus, frankly, it’s just the right thing to do.

This is a fight we can’t afford to lose. 

If the anti-gun side manages to make it too expensive for firearm companies to sell to the general public, many will go out of business, while many others will simply sell to government agencies such as police forces. While there are a lot of used guns still floating around, sooner or later, those will dry up, and while the right to keep and bear arms might still technically exist, the ability to do so will be nonexistent.

Protecting the firearm industry from this is paramount.

“But other industries don’t get this kind of protection,” some will argue, and they’re wrong. The pharmaceutical industry also has a certain degree of protection as well, not unlike the gun industry.

Yet even if that were true, so what? If the auto industry were getting sued because of drunk drivers, there would be protection for them. The firearm industry is one of the few that need it because they’re one of the few that face such ridiculous lawsuits in the first place.

Tennessee recognizes this and has taken steps to protect a vital industry.