The National Shooting Sports Foundations Inc. (NSSF) is suing Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul in response to a bill signed by Gov. J.B. Pritkzer on Aug. 12, which “radically expands liability in Illinois for members of the firearm industry – and them alone.”
The lawsuit was filed Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois through Edwardsville attorney Gary Pinter and Chicago attorney Andrew Lothson of Swanson Martin & Bell LLP. NSSF is also represented by Clement & Murphy PLLC in Alexandria, Va.
NSSF argues that while House Bill 218, or the Firearm Industry Responsibility Act, purports to prevent firearms from being used to endanger public safety or health, the law “does not regulate the use (or misuse) of firearms. Nor does it impose liability on individuals who misuse firearms to the detriment of themselves or others.”
“Instead, HB 218 regulates selling, manufacturing, and advertising lawful (and constitutionally protected) firearms and related products,” the lawsuit states. “In other words, HB 218 regulates commerce in and speech relating to arms – even when that commerce and speech takes place entirely outside of Illinois, as will often be the case.”
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