The Attorneys General of Maryland and Washington, D.C., have launched a lawsuit against several gun shops accused of aiding illegal “straw purchases” of firearms.
At a Glance
- Maryland and Washington, D.C., are suing three Rockville gun shops for allegedly facilitating a gun-trafficking scheme.
- The lawsuit aims to tackle illegal gun trafficking and involves significant legal repercussions for involved parties.
- Straw purchases allow individuals barred from owning guns to acquire them via a third party.
- Stores involved in the lawsuit include Engage Armament, United Gun Shop, and Atlantic Guns.
- The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief and financial penalties against the gun shops.
Crackdown on Gun Shops Involved in Straw Purchases
Maryland and Washington, D.C., Attorneys General have filed lawsuits against Engage Armament, United Gun Shop, and Atlantic Guns, accusing them of facilitating straw purchases. Straw purchasing involves one person buying guns on behalf of another who is legally prohibited from owning them. This practice is often used to bypass strict gun control regulations and has contributed significantly to gun violence in the D.C. area.
The civil action, filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court, stems from a 2021 investigation into firearms trafficking. During this period, the stores allegedly sold 34 semiautomatic pistols to a straw purchaser named Demetrius Minor over seven months. Minor has since been indicted, prosecuted, and sentenced to 18 months in prison for trafficking firearms.
Legal Actions Target Key Players
This lawsuit accuses the gun shops of ignoring clear warning signs of illegal activity, claiming they repeatedly sold numerous similar handguns to Minor, sometimes multiple guns on the same day. Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown stated, “Federally licensed gun dealers know the law and they know what to look for to spot possible illegal trafficking. As this lawsuit demonstrates, gun dealers cannot just choose to ignore these warning signs and guardrails.”
This legal action does not infringe upon the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens. Instead, it aims to enforce strong gun statutes and hold dealers accountable for their role in the illegal flow of firearms. The lawsuit seeks both injunctive relief to prevent future violations and financial penalties to punish past infractions.
Impact on Public Safety
The illegally trafficked firearms have been linked to increased gun violence in the Washington, D.C., region. Many of these guns remain unaccounted for, contributing further to the problem. Attorney General Brown highlighted the broader implications, stating, “This is a regional problem that requires a regional solution, as far too often, guns purchased in Maryland and Virginia are trafficked across our borders and end up at crime scenes in D.C.”
The lawsuit is seen as a crucial step in addressing gun violence in the area. From August 2020 to July 2021, the named stores were identified as top retailers of crime guns recovered in Maryland. The civil action was filed alongside the gun safety group Everytown Law and is part of a broader national effort to combat illegal gun trafficking and enhance public safety measures.
