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Attorneys general from Maryland and Washington, DC, have filed a lawsuit against three gun shops accused of selling nearly three dozen firearms to a man who later trafficked the weapons in and around the nation's capital.
The lawsuit, filed jointly by Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown and DC Attorney General Brian Schwalb, seeks damages and legal intervention to prevent future "straw purchases," a practice where someone buys a gun on behalf of another person who is prohibited from owning one.
Maryland, DC AGs Sue Gun Shops Linked to Rising Gun Violence
The guns sold by these stores have been linked to violent crimes in the DC area. According to Schwalb, at least nine of the firearms sold by these shops have been found at crime scenes or in the possession of individuals wanted for violent offenses. Many of the other guns remain unaccounted for, raising concerns about their potential use in future crimes, said USA Today.
The lawsuit highlights the critical role that these shops played in supplying firearms to individuals who should not have had access to them.
The nation's capital has been grappling with a significant increase in gun violence in recent years. Last year, Washington, DC, recorded its highest number of homicides in more than three decades, with over 90% of those homicides involving firearms.
The lawsuit notes that despite the city's strict gun laws, many of the weapons used in these crimes were trafficked from neighboring states like Maryland and Virginia, where gun laws are less stringent.
The lawsuit specifically targets three gun stores: Engage Armament, United Gun Shop, and Atlantic Guns. These stores are accused of selling 34 firearms to Demetrius Minor between April and October 2021, according to AP News.
Minor, who has since pleaded guilty to illegally dealing firearms without a license, purchased the guns and then resold them to individuals who were prohibited from owning them, including those with criminal records. As a result of a plea deal with prosecutors, Minor was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
The lawsuit also claims that Minor supplied some of the firearms to his relative, Donald Willis, a resident of Washington, DC, with a history of violent felonies. Willis, in turn, distributed the weapons to others deemed "dangerous." Some of these guns have since been recovered at crime scenes in Washington, DC, and the surrounding Maryland suburbs, but many are still missing.
The gun shops named in the lawsuit have responded differently. Atlantic Guns, Inc. stated that it is committed to not selling firearms to individuals involved in straw purchases, but declined to comment further. United Gun Shop chose not to provide any comments, and Engage Armament LLC has not yet responded.
Stricter Regulations Targets Illegal Gun Markets
The lawsuit is part of a broader effort by cities and states across the country to hold gun shops accountable for their role in facilitating gun violence. Similar lawsuits have been filed in places like New Jersey, Minnesota, Chicago, and Philadelphia. Last year, Kansas City reached a settlement with a gun dealer accused of ignoring signs of illegal gun sales.
Gun safety advocates and public health experts have been increasingly vocal about the need for stricter regulations on gun sales. Guns are the leading cause of death for children in the U.S., and nearly 50,000 people die annually from gun-related injuries. The lawsuit against the Maryland gun shops aims to address this issue by holding those who contribute to the illegal gun market accountable.
The legal action also highlights the ongoing problem of straw purchases, where firearms are bought by individuals who then illegally sell them to others. Federal law requires licensed gun dealers to report any sales where an unlicensed buyer purchases two or more handguns within a five-day period.
However, the lawsuit alleges that the stores in question failed to take action against suspicious purchasing patterns, allowing Minor to acquire and distribute firearms illegally.
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