Gem State Wire

Boise, ID – Attorney General Raúl Labrador was joined by attorneys general from 18 other states in filing an amicus brief with the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. The amicus brief supports the National Shooting Sports Foundation’s opposition to the New Jersey law seeking to hold firearm manufacturers responsible for criminal firearm misuse of third parties.

Attorney General Labrador said, “Idaho has a sovereign interest in regulating these businesses as it sees fit and ensuring they are protected from extreme policy initiatives of other states. New Jersey’s national attack on gun industry members also threatens to interfere with the rights of citizens in Idaho to keep and bear arms.” 

Attempts like New Jersey’s to chill firearm commerce nationally are why Congress passed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act in 2005. New Jersey isn’t hiding its agenda to circumvent the PLCAA’s preemptive force. 

Attorney General Raúl Labrador | Attorney General Raúl Labrador Official Website

Furthermore, New Jersey intends to threaten firearm businesses in states with crushing liability for the criminal acts of third parties. A1765 creates just the type of cause of action unfairly targeting a national industry and burdening interstate commerce that Congress aimed to bury.

“States should not punish firearm businesses operating lawfully for the actions of criminals. New Jersey fails to understand that evil people pull the trigger, not the manufacturers of the guns,” Attorney General Labrador said. 

The brief can be accessed here. Other states joining the brief include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming. 

Original source can be found here.