Outrageous Ruling by Illinois Judge Allows S&W Lawsuit to Proceed: SAF

BELLEVUE, Wash. — April 2, 2025 — The Second Modification Basis (SAF) is looking a call by Lake County, Unwell., Decide Jorge L. Ortiz to permit a wrongful dying lawsuit towards Smith & Wesson to proceed “outrageous.” 

Seven individuals had been killed and dozens extra had been injured when Robert Crimo III opened fireplace at a July 4, 2022 parade in Highland Park. He has pleaded responsible within the case and can possible spend the remainder of his life in jail. His father additionally pleaded responsible on seven felony counts of reckless conduct for signing his son’s Illinois Firearm Possession Identification (FOID) card, in keeping with a report by CBS Information. 

“Such authorized actions are exactly why Congress handed the Safety of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) again in the course of the George W. Bush administration,” mentioned SAF founder and Govt Vice President Alan M. Gottlieb. “Smith & Wesson is not any extra liable for the evil act dedicated by the Highland Park shooter than a automobile producer could be if some drunk behind the wheel smashed into a college bus and precipitated a deadly crash.” 

“Smith & Wesson, like every variety of different producers in different industries, had completely no management over the legal misuse of their product,” mentioned SAF Govt Director Adam Kraut. “Permitting all these lawsuits to proceed solely invitations additional litigation towards firearms producers to drive them out of enterprise by way of lawfare. Whereas such an finish end result would be the desired impact by the anti-gun crowd, it might be detrimental to the train of Second Modification rights and likewise nationwide protection.” 

Greater than 20 years in the past, a number of cities tried to sue the firearms business in an effort to carry gun makers and firearms retailers liable for violent crimes dedicated by individuals over whom that they had no management. These authorized actions had been dubbed “junk lawsuits” by the business, and solely succeeded in costing gun corporations tens of millions of {dollars} in authorized charges. 

“The argument right this moment is actually the identical used nearly 25 years in the past,” Gottlieb recalled. “They’re accusing Smith & Wesson of selling practices aimed toward teenagers and youthful individuals, in violation of Illinois shopper safety legal guidelines, which is nonsense. This authorized motion seems solely designed to value the corporate tens of millions of {dollars} in an try and drive it out of enterprise. We’re conscious the plaintiffs have been working with billionaire Michael Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Security, which has beforehand supported lawsuits in an try and bankrupt the firearms business, thus depriving shoppers from buying firearms and exercising their rights below the Second Modification.”

For extra data, go to saf.org. 

The Second Modification Basis (saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt training, analysis, publishing and authorized motion group devoted to safeguarding and selling the elemental rights of people enshrined within the Second Modification of the US Structure. SAF engages in aggressive authorized motion to make sure the rules of armed self-defense, private liberty, and the possession of arms are defended, secured, and restored. By way of public training initiatives, SAF teaches the significance of the Second Modification to advertise a society that values and workout routines the best to maintain and bear arms.