The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a challenge to a New York law that allows lawsuits against firearms manufacturers for alleged harm caused by the “criminal or unlawful misuse” of their products.

This legislation, signed into law by former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in 2021, permits various legal claims against firearm makers, wholesalers, and dealers—including conduct that endangers public health.

Second Amendment groups criticized the high court for declining to hear the challenge. The United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA) stated: “This is a troubling move because it could expose lawful businesses to lawsuits for crimes committed by criminals.”

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), alongside Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Beretta, Glock, Sig Sauer, and Sturm, attempted to appeal a lower court ruling. They argued that the New York law signed in 2021 renders the 2005 federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act meaningless.

The 2005 law grants manufacturers, distributors, and dealers of firearms and ammunition broad immunity from most civil liability lawsuits. It prevents the gun industry from being sued for damages resulting from criminal or unlawful misuse by third parties.

In an emailed statement to Reuters, Mark Oliva, a spokesperson for the NSSF, stated: “NSSF sincerely believes that those criminals who illegally misuse lawful products should be held responsible for the harms they cause when they commit their crimes.” Olivia added: “Holding the firearm industry responsible for criminal misuse of a firearm is akin to holding and Ford Motor Company responsible for damages from drunk-driving crimes.”

Republican Representatives Claudia Tenney (N.Y.) and Nick Langworthy (N.Y.) filed a brief in support of the lawsuit, backing gun manufacturers.

The Firearms Policy Coalition compared the law to allowing legal claims against Apple because someone used their keyboard to call you a derogatory name on social media. New York Governor Kathy Hochul commented: “The gun lobby fought tooth and nail against the toughest gun laws in the nation, but even the Supreme Court saw they had no merit. If you refuse to take basic steps to keep your guns from being used illegally, New York will make sure you pay.”

A federal judge in New York previously ruled against the gunmakers, and the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reached the same conclusion in a July 2025 ruling.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, urged the court not to take up the case, stating that the federal law “allows gun industry members to be held liable for the downstream acts of third parties in some circumstances.”