NY Gun Liability Law May Have Chilling Effect on Firearm Firms

New York’s law allowing the state to sue gun makers and sellers for gun violence may have a potentially chilling effect on the firearms industry, a Second Circuit judge said Friday.

Judge Dennis Jacobs said manufacturers might be hesitant to make parts specifically for guns if they think they also could be held liable for gun-related crimes. Out-of-state gun makers also could get tangled up in a web of regulations if they can’t comply with the manufacturing requirements under New York law, which could have an “inhibiting effect” on commerce.

“So basically companies making innocuous products could be held liable ...