If you own a firearm for self-defense, legal protection should be something you seriously consider. Although there’s no legal requirement to get gun owners’ liability coverage, like owning a fire extinguisher or having homeowner insurance, it’s a tool you hope to never need but feel better for having in place just in case.

Legal protection for gun owners isn’t just for shootings, but any criminal or civil action that could arise from the use of a weapon. Even if you’re cleared of charges in criminal court, victims’ families may file civil lawsuits. And the costs of defending yourself in civil courts can add up quickly.

Legal Protection for Gun Owners: Why It’s Essential

Unlike nearly every other industry in America, the profit-seeking gun industry enjoys huge exemptions from most traditional civil liability laws. Federal law known as PLCAA (Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act) and state-level “gun industry immunity” laws allow irresponsible manufacturers, dealers, and marketers to avoid paying for the harm their harmful conduct causes others, essentially giving them a free pass to continue engaging in dangerous practices. And in too many cases, victims are denied justice when they bring their evidence to a courtroom.

In addition, a lack of strong background check laws is a major reason why more guns show up at crime scenes than police find and confiscate. States with weaker gun laws are a gateway for illegally trafficked weapons to enter the country, making up the so-called “iron pipeline.” A recent study found that states with stronger gun laws are less likely to be victims of this phenomenon, but there’s still much more work to do.