The Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up a challenge brought by the firearms industry against a New York law that permits lawsuits against gun makers and sellers when their products are connected to injuries caused by criminal or unlawful use.

The legal challenge was pursued by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) together with major firearms manufacturers, including Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Beretta, Glock, Sig Sauer, and Sturm. The group sought to overturn a lower court ruling, arguing that New York’s 2021 statute effectively undermines federal protections established under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act of 2005.

That federal law provides broad legal safeguards for firearm manufacturers, distributors, and dealers, shielding them from most civil lawsuits stemming from crimes committed by third parties using legally sold firearms or ammunition.

“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 the industry group wrote in an emailed statement to Reuters.

Oliva argued that holding gun companies accountable for crimes committed with their products is no different than blaming automakers for offenses committed by intoxicated drivers.

“Holding the firearm industry responsible for the criminal misuse of a firearm is akin to holding and Ford Motor Company responsible for damages from drunk-driving crimes,” Olivia added.

Support for the industry’s position also came from Republican Representatives Claudia Tenney and Nick Langworthy of New York, who filed a legal brief backing the manufacturers’ challenge.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, however, maintained that the federal law does not provide absolute immunity and that firearm companies may still face liability in certain situations involving the actions of third parties.

According to James, even the 2005 statute allows circumstances in which members of the gun industry can be held accountable for the consequences of their conduct.

State Senator Zellnor Myrie, a Democrat who authored the 2021 measure signed into law by then-Governor Andrew Cuomo, welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision and defended the law as an important public safety tool.

“New York has an obligation to protect the health and safety of every resident, and any industry—including members of the gun industry—impacting New Yorkers has to take reasonable steps to do the same,” Myrie said on Monday, according to a local outlet in New York.

{Matzav.com}