California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a new law allowing individuals, the state, and local governments to sue gun makers for negligence.
As reported by Politico, the bill, which was signed on Tuesday, could clear the way for a wave of civil lawsuits against companies that manufacture the guns used in crimes.
In a video message on Tuesday, Newsom said: "To the victims of gun violence and their families: California stands with you. The gun industry can no longer hide from the devastating harm their products cause."
He added: "If you’ve been hurt or a family member is a victim of gun violence, you can now go to court and hold these makers of deadly weapons accountable."
The governor said that "nearly every industry is held to account" when one of its products causes harm or injury - except the gun industry.
The new bill - officially known as California Assembly Bill 1594 - demonstrates California's efforts to strengthen gun laws in California - with the state already having the strictest gun safety measures in the United States, according to the Giffords Law Center.
"Our kids, families, and communities deserve streets free of gun violence and gun makers must be held accountable for their role in this crisis. Nearly every industry is held liable when people are hurt or killed by their products - guns should be no different," Newsom said.
Politico adds that firearm manufacturers could face lawsuits if their products are deemed to be "abnormally dangerous", can be purchased in a way that allowed for easy and illegal conversion, or wind up in the hands of individuals who are prohibited from owning firearms.
Per CNN, Assemblymember Phil Ting - who co-authored the bill - hopes that the new law will "finally compel [firearm manufacturers] to step up to reduce gun violence by preventing illegal sales and theft".
Of course, the news also comes in the wake of a number of horrific mass shootings across the nation - such as the racially-motivated supermarket shooting in Buffalo, New York, the Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, and the Independence Day Parade shooting in Highland Park, Illinois.
Of course, it is expected that the new bill will face legal challenges from critics.
CNN reports that a 2005 federal law has long offered legal protection to firearm manufacturers and dealers when the weapons they produce are utilized in criminal activity.
However, in a California press release, the new bill "utilizes an exemption to the federal statute that allows gun makers or sellers to be sued for violations of state laws concerning the sale or marketing of firearms."