HB78 protects Kentucky firearm and ammunition manufacturers, sellers, and trade associations from certain civil lawsuits arising from the criminal or unlawful use of their products by third parties. The law generally prohibits holding these businesses responsible for crimes committed with legally manufactured or sold firearms. It also prohibits local governments from imposing conflicting liability rules, establishes procedures for challenging lawsuits that violate these protections, and authorizes the Kentucky attorney general to enforce the law.

The Kentucky State House of Representatives overrode the governor's veto of HB78 on April 14, 2026 by a vote of 80 to 19. We have assigned pluses to the ayes because this bill correctly places liability on those who commit crimes, not on manufacturers whose products are lawfully made and sold. HB78 shields firearm and ammunition producers from abusive lawsuits designed to bankrupt the industry and effectively nullify the Second Amendment through the courts. Protecting lawful commerce in arms is essential to preserving the God-given rights referenced in the Declaration of Independence—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—and safeguarding the constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms.