New York Attorney General Letitia James has taken legal action against Mean Arms LLC, the company responsible for selling the locking device used by a white supremacist in the Buffalo grocery store shooting. The lawsuit alleges that the device, which was marketed as a means to comply with New York’s ban on high-capacity magazines, can be easily removed, allowing the rifle to be transformed into an illegal assault weapon.
According to the complaint, Mean Arms made false claims about their device’s ability to secure a 10-round magazine, preventing its replacement with a larger one. The lawsuit reveals that the lock can be effortlessly removed, with instructions even provided on the packaging. In his manifesto, the shooter, Payton Gendron, admitted to removing the Mean Arms lock and replacing the magazine with a 30-round capacity one.
The state of New York is accusing Mean Arms of engaging in deceptive business practices and aiding and abetting the possession of illegal assault weapons. Seeking an injunction to prohibit the company from selling its lock in the state, New York is also pursuing unspecified financial damages. Attorney General James emphasized that the lawsuit forms part of the ongoing efforts to seek justice for the victims of the shooting.
Mean Arms has yet to respond to the lawsuit or provide any comments on the matter. This legal action aligns with a broader trend observed among Democratic state officials who are targeting the gun industry through court proceedings in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s expansion of gun rights nationwide last year.
In February, Gendron, the Buffalo shooter, pleaded guilty to murder and terrorism charges in state court and received a life sentence without parole. However, he still faces federal charges that carry the possibility of the death penalty.
The shooter, Payton Gendron, who livestreamed the attack on social media and posted a racist manifesto online, was sentenced to life without parole in February after pleading guilty to murder and terrorism charges in state court. However, he still faces federal charges that carry the potential for a death sentence.
The lawsuit against Mean Arms focuses on the company’s false marketing claims regarding the locking device. By promoting it as a way to comply with New York’s restrictions on high-capacity magazines, the company misled customers and allowed the shooter to convert the rifle into an illegal assault weapon. The complaint states that the locking device can be easily removed, rendering the magazine size restrictions ineffective.
New York’s lawsuit accuses Mean Arms of deceptive business practices and aiding and abetting the possession of illegal assault weapons. The state seeks to prevent the company from selling its locking device in New York and is pursuing monetary damages, the amount of which has not been specified.
The legal action taken by New York Attorney General Letitia James is part of an ongoing effort to seek justice for the 10 innocent lives lost in the Buffalo grocery store shooting. The lawsuit sends a message that companies cannot make false claims or provide means to circumvent gun regulations without facing consequences.
Mean Arms LLC has not yet responded to the lawsuit or provided any comment on the matter. The outcome of this case will have implications not only for the company but also for the broader gun industry as it grapples with increased scrutiny and legal challenges.
The Buffalo grocery store shooting served as a tragic reminder of the urgent need for gun control measures and the prevention of illegal firearms from falling into the wrong hands. Through this lawsuit, New York aims to hold accountable those who contribute to the proliferation of illegal assault weapons, ultimately striving to enhance public safety and prevent further acts of violence.
