Mercer Times

Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin announced the formation of a multistate coalition comprising 16 Attorneys General to address gun violence by holding firearms industry members accountable for their actions. The coalition seeks to enforce civil liability and consumer protection laws across states, aiming to enhance public safety.

Platkin emphasized the coalition's objective: "Together with my fellow Attorneys General, I will fight to protect our state residents from the wanton disregard for human life caused by bad actors in the firearms industry, which contribute to rising gun violence." He clarified that the initiative does not aim to limit lawful gun ownership but targets unsafe business practices leading to mass shootings.

The Statewide Affirmative Firearms Enforcement Office (SAFE), directed by Ravi Ramanathan, supports this initiative. Ramanathan stated, "Gun violence is a national crisis, demanding a unified response," highlighting the coalition's commitment to halting reckless business practices in the firearms sector.

In its initial action, Attorney General Platkin and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison filed lawsuits against Glock in their respective state courts. The suits allege that Glock handguns can be modified into illegal machine guns using a component known as a "Glock switch."

Other states joining this effort include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Each state shares the goal of holding firearm manufacturers and sellers accountable when their practices result in unlawful sales or gun trafficking.

Recent actions taken by member states demonstrate their commitment. In 2024 alone:

- Maryland and District of Columbia authorities sued three licensed dealers for illegal sales.

- Connecticut settled with out-of-state dealers over ghost gun parts violations.

- Delaware investigated Cabela’s for shoplifting incidents involving ammunition.

- Washington resolved a case involving large-capacity magazine sales.

- California addressed ghost gun kit manufacturing through legal action.

The economic impact of gun violence exceeds $500 billion annually in the United States according to research cited by The Joyce Foundation on state civil enforcement efforts.

SAFE was established in 2022 under New Jersey legislation P.L. 2022 c. 56 as an office focused on firearms industry accountability.