Supreme Court declines to hear NY gun lawsuit challenge

The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Monday, June 15, to hear a challenge to a New York state law that allows civil lawsuits against firearm manufacturers and dealers. The decision leaves in place a lower court ruling that upheld the 2021 statute, dealing a setback to the firearms industry.

The appeal was led by the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a major industry trade group, and joined by manufacturers including Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Beretta, Glock, Sig Sauer, and Sturm. They argued that New York's law conflicts with and is preempted by the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), a 2005 statute designed to shield gun companies from liability when their products are used in crimes. The Supreme Court did not provide an explanation for its decision to deny the case.

The New York law, signed by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo, permits the state, local governments, and private citizens to sue members of the gun industry for conduct that endangers public safety. It requires businesses to establish and maintain "reasonable controls" to prevent illegal gun trafficking, theft, and straw purchases. State officials have defended the measure as a necessary tool for...