Debunking VA Senator Carroll Foy’s 2026 Firearm Industry Bill

Virginia Senator Jennifer Carroll Foy (D) has prefiled a bill for the 2026 Legislative Session that claims to establish “standards of responsible conduct” for firearm industry members. On the surface, it sounds like common‑sense regulation. In reality, it’s a sweeping attempt to impose vague, unworkable mandates on manufacturers, dealers, and distributors - opening the door to endless lawsuits, selective enforcement, and back‑door gun control.

Let's take this mess she's proposing apart, shall we?

1. REDUNDANT Controls Already Exist

The bill demands “reasonable procedures” to prevent straw purchases, trafficking, or sales to prohibited persons. But federal law already covers this:

• Background checks (NICS) are required for all sales by licensed dealers.

• Straw purchasing and trafficking are federal crimes with stiff penalties.

• ATF oversight already enforces compliance.

This bill duplicates existing law, creating confusion and exposing businesses to double jeopardy.

2. Impossible Standards of Prediction

The bill requires firearm industry members to block sales if they have “reasonable cause to believe” someone is at risk of harming themselves or others.

• Dealers are not mental health professionals.

• “Reasonable cause” is undefined, leaving businesses vulnerable to lawsuits for failing to predict human behavior.

• It weaponizes hindsight - if someone later commits a crime, the dealer could be blamed retroactively.

  
  

3. Public Nuisance Theory = Unlimited Liability

The bill bans firearm industry members from “contributing to a public nuisance.” This vague language has been used in other states to sue gun makers for crimes committed by third parties.

• It shifts blame from criminals to lawful businesses.

• It invites activist attorneys to bankrupt the industry through litigation.

• It undermines the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which was designed to stop exactly this abuse.

  
  

4. Civil Cause of Action = Trial Lawyer Bonanza

The bill allows the Attorney General, local prosecutors, and even private individuals to sue firearm businesses.

• This creates a floodgate of lawsuits, even from people with no direct connection to the alleged violation.

• It empowers politically motivated officials to target gun businesses they dislike.

• It raises costs for consumers and threatens small shops that can’t afford endless legal battles.

Let's not forget who won the VA Attorney General position, either...

5. Consumer Protection Act Misuse

By tying firearm sales to the Virginia Consumer Protection Act, the bill treats lawful commerce in firearms like deceptive advertising or fraud.

• Firearms are already one of the most regulated products in America.

• This is a deliberate attempt to stigmatize the industry and subject it to unrelated consumer law.

  
  

This bill is not about “responsible conduct.” It’s about creating vague, overlapping standards that make compliance impossible, then punishing the industry with lawsuits and liability. It's almost like Jennifer got bored while reading ALL of the already gun laws on the books and was like, "Let's make them even more lawy!" Virginians should see it for what it is: a Trojan horse for dismantling lawful commerce in firearms.