Kendall County Times

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has vowed to sign a bill that paves the way for gun sellers to be sued for marketing to young people.

“Gun violence is a public health epidemic, and those who encourage unlawful use of a firearm or target sales of firearms to minors worsen the scourge of gun violence in our communities,” Pritzker said in a statement. “This legislation finally protects Illinoisans from predatory actions by the firearms industry.”

With Democratic Attorney General Kwame Raoul leading the charge, the House previously approved the bill and it now goes to Pritzker for his signature.  Republican lawmakers stood against the proposal en masse.

The bill seeks to track with a federal law passed in 2005, the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. That law widely exempts gun makers from being sued for injuries caused by criminal misuse of their products, but it provides exceptions that include an allegation that the manufacturer or seller violated state or federal law on the sale or marketing of firearms.

Along with prohibiting marketing and sales to minors, the Illinois bill prohibits "failing to establish or utilize reasonable controls; (ii) advertise, market, or promote a firearm-related product in a manner that reasonably appears to support, recommend, or encourage individuals to engage in unlawful paramilitary or private militia activity." 

Senate President Don Harmon, a Democrat from Oak Park, said the proposal makes clear that the industry must comply with Illinois law, including a prohibition on marketing guns to anyone under 18. Before Thursday’s vote, Harmon referenced advertising campaigns for a “JR-15” rifle, a variation on the AR-15, which the gun maker's marketing campaign called “smaller, safer and lighter.”