Gun makers lose problem to New York law allowing lawsuits towards industry

Weapons confiscated at New York City public schools are displayed at a news convention with Mayor Eric Adams at police headquarters to speak about guns in public schools in New York City on Could 25, 2022 in New York City.

Spencer Platt | Getty Photographs

A federal decide on Wednesday threw out a lawsuit by a group of gun manufacturers, distributors and retailers difficult the constitutionality of a New York regulation that enables the state and people affected by gun violence to sue the trade.

U.S. District Decide Mae D'Agostino in Albany rejected a request by the Nationwide Taking pictures Sports activities Foundation and gun manufacturers, together with Smith & Wesson and Sturm, Ruger & Co, to enjoin enforcement of the statute.

The ruling came a day after a gunman killed 19 children and two adults at a Texas elementary school, the newest in a spate of mass shootings, prompting renewed calls by Democrats for tougher gun rules.

The Nationwide Capturing Sports activities Foundation, a trade group for the firearms industry, didn't instantly reply to a request for remark.

Democratic former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo final July signed into law a measure that seeks to overcome legal hurdles which have largely shielded the trade from lawsuits associated to gun violence.

The legislation allows firearm sellers, manufacturers and distributors to be sued by the state, cities or individuals for creating a "public nuisance" that endangers the general public's security and health.

The gun trade group argued the regulation wrongly imposes legal responsibility on companies working anywhere in the country that make, sell or market guns or ammunition which might be misused by criminals in New York.