Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to New York law allowing lawsuits against gun makers

The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear a challenge to a New York state law that allows people to bring lawsuits against gun manufacturers and dealers for “harms resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse” of their merchandise.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation attempted to appeal a lower court ruling alongside Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Beretta, Glock, Sig Sauer and Sturm, to argue the 2021 New York law clashed with federal law and rendered the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act meaningless. 

The Supreme Court did not explain its reasoning for rejecting the case. The decision comes the same day the highest court also declined to take up over a dozen cases as it winds down the term, including an appeal from a 98-year-old federal judge who had been suspended amid mental fitness concerns.

“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,” ‌Mark Oliva, a spokesperson for NSSF told Reuters. “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 Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul celebrated the decision, claiming that "even the Supreme Court" saw the gun lobby had "no merit." 

"The gun lobby fought tooth and nail against the toughest gun laws in the nation, but even the Supreme Court saw they had no merit," Hochul said on X. "If you refuse to take basic steps to keep your guns from being used illegally, New York will make sure you pay."

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.