Firearms companies petition Supreme Court to dismiss shooting lawsuit

More than a dozen firearms manufacturers have petitioned the Supreme Court to dismiss a lawsuit stemming from a 2022 shooting in Washington, D.C. The lawsuit was filed by Karen Lowy and her daughter, who were wounded when Raymond Spencer fired over 200 rounds from an apartment toward a school.

The companies argue that they should not be held liable for the actions of a third party who used their legal and widely owned products. The legal dispute centers on whether the manufacturers' conduct had a determinative effect on the shooter. While a federal district judge initially dismissed the case, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.

The industry is appealing to the Supreme Court, citing a conflict between different federal appellate circuits regarding the legal standards for traceability and liability in such cases. The National Shooting Sports Foundation has also petitioned to file an amicus brief in the matter.