In the News: New York City’s Suit Against Gunmakers Dismissed

The Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against New York City in its lawsuit against the gun industry, asserting that gunmakers are protected from third-party litigation. Filed in 2000, the suit charged that gunmakers and distributors knowingly provided illegal markets with weapons. The manufacturers claimed that under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, they could only be charged for violating state or federal statutes in their sales and marketing practices. The court ultimately rejected the city’s contention that gunmakers had violated the state’s public nuisance law by poorly managing transactions with retailers, thereby enabling criminals to obtain firearms and threaten public safety.

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