The US Supreme Court turned away a gun industry challenge to a New York law that permits lawsuits against gun makers, wholesalers, and dealers for endangering people’s safety through sales of firearms and ammunition.

New York Law Upheld

The justices declined to hear an appeal by an industry trade group, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, of a lower court ruling upholding the law, which New York calls a public nuisance statute.

Gun manufacturers, including Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Beretta, Glock, Sig Sauer, and Sturm, joined the appeal, arguing that New York’s law unconstitutionally conflicted with federal law.

The law requires the gun industry to use reasonable safeguards to protect against gun trafficking, theft, and the use of ‘straw purchasers’ who buy firearms for someone else. It also allows civil lawsuits by New York state and local officials as well as members of the public.

Industry Reaction

The National Shooting Sports Foundation trade group expressed disappointment that the Supreme Court decided not to hear its appeal.

‘NSSF sincerely believes that those criminals who illegally misuse lawful products should be held responsible for the harms they cause when they commit their crimes,’ spokesperson Mark Oliva said in an email. ‘Holding the firearm industry responsible for the criminal misuse of a firearm is akin to holding Anheuser-Busch and Ford Motor Company responsible for damages from drunk-driving crimes.’

New York’s Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul called the outcome ‘a massive victory’ in efforts to reduce gun violence. The law was signed in 2021 by Hochul’s predecessor, Democrat Andrew Cuomo.

‘The gun lobby fought tooth and nail against this first-in-the-nation law,’ Hochul said in a statement. ‘New York will not allow gun manufacturers to profit from tragedy.’

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.