Lawsuits filed on behalf of victims of gun violence have been circulating though the court system for years. In an effort to set legal parameters on the firearms industry, Congress developed legislation to limit the liability of gun manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers from certain lawsuits. One provision in the legislation would prevent lawsuits against gun-sellers with clean criminal records even if the seller knowingly sold or transferred a firearm to someone planning to commit a crime. Congressman Scott (D-VA) offered an amendment to the bill that would have eliminated that provision. Had Scott's amendment passed, any gun-seller--even if they had no prior convictions--could be sued if they knowingly transferred a gun to someone plotting a crime. Progressives supported Scott's amendment as a way to strengthen the accountability of gun dealers and to insure that those dealers do not sell guns to individuals if the seller is aware that the buyer plans to use the weapon to commit a crime. Scott's amendment was defeated by a vote of 148-278.