A federal judge has ruled against a challenge to a Washington state law that enables lawsuits against the gun industry in specific cases. The law, signed by Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee last year, aims to address gun violence by requiring the industry to implement reasonable controls in the making, selling, and marketing of weapons. These controls include measures to prevent guns from being sold to dangerous individuals or straw buyers.
Under this law, the attorney general or private parties, such as family members of shooting victims, can sue for violations or damages under the state's Consumer Protection Act. The National Shooting Sports Foundation, a trade association, contested the law in court, arguing that it infringes on the Second Amendment and the free-speech rights of its members.
