NY Chalks Up Big Legal Victory Against Gun Manufacturers

NEW YORK— A federal court dismissed a lawsuit from a group of 14 gun manufacturers and a trade association challenging a New York State law that gives the attorney general the ability to hold gun manufacturers and sellers responsible for gun violence, New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced on Wednesday.

James said the legal victory means New York’s right to hold gun manufacturers responsible for gun violence has been preserved.

"As we mourn the deaths of 19 innocent children lost to gun violence in Uvalde and the countless more in Buffalo and across America every day, this is a moment of light and hope," James said. "New York is proud to defend the right to impose reasonable gun restrictions that protect all of us. As public officials, we were elected to solve problems and address the needs of the people. Prayers alone will no longer do, and cowardliness is not part of the job description. New York will always lead, and I urge others with a backbone to follow."

In 2005, Congress passed federal legislation giving gun manufacturers and distributors blanket immunity for gun violence perpetrated as a direct result of their marketing and distribution of firearms, according to James.

In July of 2021, New York passed a public nuisance bill, which restored the ability of the state and local governments to bring civil liability actions against firearm manufacturers and sellers for "their own bad conduct." James says the law "combats that federal overreach" and will provide the state with the ability to protect its own citizens.

The lawsuit initiated by 14 gun manufacturers and a trade group in December of 2021, contended that the July 2021 law was unconstitutional and filed for a preliminary injunction. James filed a motion to dismiss the case in February of this year. On Wednesday, the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of New York dismissed the case and denied the preliminary injunction.