Attorney General James Vows to Defend New York’s Gun Control Laws

NEW YORK – New York Attorney General Letitia James released the following statement in response to a lawsuit reportedly filed today by gun manufacturers and sellers challenging a New York law that gives the state the ability to hold gun manufacturers and sellers responsible for gun violence:

“Once again, the gun lobby is trying to exert total control over this country and thwart common-sense efforts to protect lives. Make no mistake: We will aggressively defend this law and won’t back down against their continued attempts to endanger New Yorkers.”

In July 2021, New York state passed a new law that restores the ability of the state and localities to bring civil liability actions against firearm manufacturers and sellers for their own bad conduct. In 2005, Congress took unprecedented action to usurp states’ rights and give gun manufacturers and distributors blanket immunity for gun violence perpetrated as a direct result of their marketing and distribution of firearms. This law combats that federal overreach and provides New York the ability to protect its own citizens.