Sandy and Lonnie Phillips, Newtown Action Alliance, and Junior Newtown Alliance secure additional support, bringing total to 129 cosponsors
Marking 12 years since their daughter’s brutal shooting death along with 11 others in an Aurora, CO theater, Sandy and Lonnie Phillips recently collaborated with Newtown Action Alliance and Junior Newtown Alliance in Washington, DC to secure 12 additional cosponsors for HR4184 to repeal the federal gun industry immunity law. The bill is called “Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act of 2023.”
In total, their efforts have secured 129 cosponsors in the House of Representatives to repeal The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), and five additional Representatives have signaled support. The group’s aim is to get at least 150 cosponsors, enabling House Democrats to file a discharge petition to ensure HR 4184 will be a priority after the November election.
Sandy Phillips said, “Days have been dark during the annual mourning ritual of Jessi’s death that happened on July 20. Walking the halls of Congress with now young adult survivors of gun violence is a potent antidote to that misery.”
Lonnie Phillips said, “This elite team of survivor advocates has morphed from traumatized children to the most moving advocates for PLCAA repeal. Sandy Hook was the first shooting we responded to after our Jessi was killed. None of us knew then that PLCAA would shield the arms dealer who sold the 4,000 rounds of ammo that killed our daughter and 11 others from civil liability. A Colorado Court had to rule in the dealer’s favor in our lawsuit, which forced us into bankruptcy because of $203,000 awarded for their attorney and court costs.”
Sandy Hook families also were denied justice and the ability to directly sue the arms industry. In 2022, nine of the Sandy Hook families settled a lawsuit against Remington based on the gun makers’ marketing tactics, alleging the arms dealer targeted younger, at-risk males in Remington’s advertising and product placement in violent video games.
In 2023, spurred on by Sandy and Lonnie Phillips, Colorado passed Jessi’s Law, which repealed the state’s gun industry immunity law.
“Increasingly, states are making progress toward sensible gun control, including holding the firearm industry legally accountable for irresponsible acts. Now it’s time for Congress to repeal PLCAA and move forward on other gun control measures to ensure safe and responsible gun ownership and use,” added Lonnie Phillips.
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