Mass shooting victims at a Fourth of July celebration north of Chicago have sued gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson Brands for selling weapons to young males who are prone to acting violently.
On Wednesday, a number of lawsuits were brought against the corporation in relation to the attack in Highland Park, Illinois, which resulted in seven fatalities and 48 injuries.
The newest attempt to recover damages from gun manufacturers, who are typically immune from liability under federal law, comes from victims of such attacks.
Antonio Romanucci, whose law office is a member of the legal team bringing the claims, which also includes Everytown for Gun Safety, said, “This isn’t just Highland Park, Illinois.”
“We’re now noticing a pattern.”
According to complaints made in Lake County, Smith & Wesson and other gun manufacturers’ marketing of their products served as “the starting and critical links in a foreseeable and predictable chain of events” that led to several mass shootings in America each year.
Requests for comment from a Smith & Wesson spokesperson went unanswered.
Additionally, the plaintiffs assert that the manufacturer’s marketing encourages a risky “warrior attitude” that does little to deter would-be shooters from obtaining guns and utilizing them to commit lethal assaults.
Robert Eugene Crime III, the alleged shooter, his father, and a number of gun stores are also included in the lawsuit. On the day of the attack, Mr. Crimo was taken into custody and charged with murder.
Stay connected with lakecountyfloridanews.com for the Latest News.