Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown has joined a coalition of 16 attorneys general to hold firearms industry members accountable for business practices contributing to gun violence, using civil liability and consumer protection laws to promote public safety.
Per the Maryland Attorney General’s Office: “Attorney General Anthony G. Brown announced that he has joined a coalition of 16 attorneys general formed to hold irresponsible firearms industry members accountable for their role in gun violence. This multistate coalition, the first of its kind, aims to reduce gun violence through coordinated enforcement of state civil liability and consumer protection laws, promoting public safety and saving lives.
“Gun violence tears our communities apart and threatens Maryland families’ safety. The companies that make up the firearms industry must do their part to help us address this life-threatening epidemic. This partnership ensures that if those companies prioritize profits over people, we will hold those businesses accountable,” said Attorney General Brown. “Our office will do whatever it takes to keep Marylanders safe.”
The states joining the coalition share a common goal of holding firearms industry members—including manufacturers, distributors, and sellers—accountable when their business practices lead to unlawful sales, gun trafficking, and other outcomes that endanger lives. Many attorneys general in the coalition have already pursued civil enforcement actions under their respective state laws.
For example, Attorney General Brown, on behalf of the State of Maryland, and District of Columbia Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb, on behalf of the District of Columbia, sued three Maryland-based federally licensed gun dealers for public nuisance and negligence. These dealers were accused of selling dozens of firearms to a straw purchaser who then trafficked the weapons.
The nation’s gun violence epidemic causes not only a tragic loss of life and serious injuries but also enormous economic impacts. A Joyce Foundation report published earlier this year noted that gun violence results in over $500 billion in economic losses annually in the United States.
The other Task Force members joining Maryland in forming this coalition include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai’i, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont.”