The National Shooting Sports Foundation proudly did a well-earned victory lap publicizing the signing of a bill in Indiana to end the City of Gary’s 25-year-long nuisance lawsuit against the gun industry. Governor Eric Holcomb signed the bill, which will preempt local municipalities from filing lawsuits relating to guns and gun ownership.  Considering the City of Gary’s nuisance lawsuit was first filed in 1999, the measure was long overdue.

Of course, Big Gun Control isn’t handling the news well at all as their lawfare charade is coming to an end.

🚨BREAKING:
Indiana’s governor just signed a bill (HB 1235) into law designed to kill off the most consequential legal case against the gun industry in this country.

This law is a tragedy for Americans everywhere. It’s a grim day for the gun violence prevention movement. #INleg pic.twitter.com/GEC6SbP9e6

— Brady | United Against Gun Violence (@bradybuzz) March 15, 2024

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb just signed a bill into law that is aimed at one thing— ending the most significant legal case against the gun industry in the U.S.

We should all question what the gun industry is trying to hide. This law is a tragedy. #INleghttps://t.co/hEEu6ijzkN

— Kris Brown | President, bradyunited.org (@KrisB_Brown) March 15, 2024

Those gun-hating tears taste delicious. Savor the moment.

Here’s the NSSF’s press release:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — NSSF, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, praises Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s signing of House Bill 1235, legislation that “provides that only the state of Indiana may bring or maintain an action by or on behalf of a political subdivision against a firearm or ammunition manufacturer, trade association, seller, or dealer concerning certain matters.” The bill “prohibits a political subdivision from otherwise independently bringing or maintaining such an action.”

The industry members the City of Gary sued are expected to promptly file a motion to dismiss the case based on this new law that became effective immediately upon the Governor’s signature. Lawyers representing the city acknowledged in their testimony opposing the bill that if it were to be enacted it would mean the City of Gary’s lawsuit will be dismissed. The City of Gary’s nearly quarter-century old frivolous lawsuit against firearm manufacturers seeks to hold them responsible for the criminal actions of unrelated and remote third parties.

“This is a tremendous victory for common sense. The City of Gary never had a serious claim. Instead, it was committed to a losing strategy of lawfare to abuse the courts in order to force through gun control policy outside of legislative channels,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President & General Counsel. “NSSF is grateful for Indiana Rep. Chris Jeter for his leadership when he introduced this legislation, the Indiana legislature including Sen. Aaron Freeman for its commitment to the law and Governor Holcomb for his faithfulness to the principles of ensuring politically-motivated lawsuits don’t clog our courts and allow special-interests to circumvent the legislative authority reserved by the State of Indiana.”

The City of Gary, Ind., first filed their claims in 1999, as part of a coordinated effort by 40 big city mayors who conspired together through the U.S. Conference of Mayors with gun control activist from Brady United (formerly known as the Brady Center), lawyers and trial lawyers.

All these municipal lawsuits have either been dismissed by the courts, e.g., Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Fransico, Detroit and St. Louis, or simply dropped by several cities, e.g., Boston, Cincinnati and Camden. Many of these municipal lawsuits were dismissed based on state preemption laws enacted between the 1999 to 2001 time period upon which H.B. 1235 is modeled. Like H.B. 1235, these laws – that have been upheld by the courts – reserve to the state the exclusive authority to sue members of the industry except that they allow for breach of warranty and related claims for firearms a political subdivision purchased. 

Additionally, Congress passed in a broad bipartisan fashion, and President George W. Bush signed into law, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) in 2005. The PLCAA blocks lawsuits that attempt to hold firearm and ammunition industry companies liable for the criminal actions of third parties who misuse the industry’s lawful non-defective products. More specifically, this common-sense law ensures that responsible and law-abiding federally licensed manufacturers and retailers of firearms and ammunition are not unjustly blamed in federal and state civil actions for “the harm caused by those who criminally or unlawfully misuse” these products that function as designed and intended.

Who knows how many millions of dollars have been expended paying to defend against this nuisance lawsuit. It’s too bad the defendants can’t recoup those costs against the city’s leaders.