Synagogue Shooting Victims Sue Smith & Wesson for Negligence

Gun News


Firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson Brands Inc. negligently marketed the AR-15 style semiautomatic rifle that was used in a 2019 mass shooting at a California synagogue, victims and survivors claim in a lawsuit.

The company illegally designed and marketed its M&P 15 Sport II rifle to appeal to a “dangerous class of would-be mass shooters,” including by falsely associating the product with the U.S. military and law enforcement, according to a complaint filed last Monday in California state court in San Diego.

The suit mirrors one filed against Remington Arms Co. by family members of nine children and educators killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre. In that case, Remington argued the suit was blocked by a 2005 federal law enacted to shield the industry from lawsuits, but Connecticut’s top court last year let the case proceed. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear Remington’s appeal.

In the San Diego lawsuit, the gun-control group Brady Center claims the military-style weapon was used to kill one worshiper and wound three others in the April 2019 attack on Chabad of Poway Synagogue in Poway, California. A mass assault with such a gun was foreseeable by the company, the group said.

Smith & Wesson “deceptively marketed its military-style assault rifle in a way that attracted impulsive young men with military complexes who were particularly likely to be attracted to the unique ability of AR-15 style weapons,” according to the complaint.

The plaintiffs seek unspecified damages and a court order requiring Smith & Wesson to cease its allegedly illegal marketing campaign and reform its sales practices.

Smith & Wesson’s media contact didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

(Michael Bloomberg, the founder and majority owner of Bloomberg LP, helped launch Everytown for Gun Safety and backs candidates who support measures such as universal background checks.)

Photo: Pistols sit on display in the Smith & Wesson Corp. booth during the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual meeting in Dallas, Texas, U.S., on Saturday, May 5, 2018. Photographer: Daniel Acker/Bloomberg

Copyright 2020 Bloomberg.

The most important insurance news,in your inbox every business day.

Get the insurance industry’s trusted newsletter



Source link

20 Comments

  1. 931796 513896Aw, this became an incredibly nice post. In thought I would like to devote writing such as this moreover – taking time and actual effort to make a very very good article but exactly what do I say I procrastinate alot and by no indicates uncover a way to get something completed. 533598

  2. 262982 379365Does your weblog have a contact page? Im having a tough time locating it but, Id like to send you an e-mail. Ive got some suggestions for your weblog you might be interested in hearing. Either way, excellent site and I appear forward to seeing it expand more than time. 997857

  3. Hellko there, I found ypur sitee by the usee of Gooogle
    att the same time as lookming for a relatd matter, your web ste came up, it seemns
    too be good. I havfe boookmarked it in myy
    googke bookmarks.
    Hello there, jusst bewcame alsrt to yoiur blog via
    Google, aand found that it’s truly informative.
    I amm going tto watch oout for brussels. I will bee grateful ffor thokse
    who proceed thus in future. Numerous people cann be benjefited from your writing.

    Cheers!

  4. I lovee what yoou guygs are usually upp too. Such clever wwork
    andd exposure! Keeep up thhe wonderful works guys I’ve incluced yoou gys tto blogroll.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *