INDIANA – Attorney General Todd Rokita today issued the following statement on the Indiana Court of Appeals’ unanimous ruling dismissing the City of Gary’s 26-year-old lawsuit against law-abiding firearm manufacturers and sellers:
“The Indiana Court of Appeals has unanimously ruled in our favor, dismissing the City of Gary’s 26-year-old lawsuit against law-abiding firearm manufacturers and sellers.
This decision upholds the General Assembly’s legislation that states only the State of Indiana, not individual cities, may pursue such actions against the firearms industry.
This result helps to ensure that firearms remain available to law-abiding citizens, preventing a single city or handful of cities from using lawsuits to force changes to the way they are sold.
Our office will continue defending your constitutional rights and keeping firearms accessible to responsible, law-abiding citizens.”
Solicitor General James Barta, who argued the appeal on behalf of the State, added: “This unanimous ruling confirms the legislature’s clear intent and authority to preempt local governments from bringing these types of lawsuits, ensuring uniform statewide policy and protecting the rights of law-abiding Hoosiers from piecemeal litigation that could restrict access to firearms.”
