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Last year, Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law that allows lawsuits
against the firearms industry for a variety of reasons.
“We hold opioid manufacturers accountable,” Pritzker said last
summer. “We hold vaping companies accountable. We hold predatory
lenders accountable. Gun manufacturers should not be able to
hide from the law and now they won’t be able to.”
Separate federal and state-level lawsuits are pending
challenging the law.
Tuesday, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson announced his
administration was using the law to sue firearms manufacturer
Glock.
“The City of Chicago is encountering a deadly new frontier in
the gun violence plaguing our communities because of the
increase of fully automatic Glocks on our streets,” Johnson
said. “Selling firearms that can so easily be converted into
automatic weapons makes heinous acts even more deadly, so we are
doing everything we can in collaboration with others committed
to ending gun violence to hold Glock accountable for putting
profits over public safety.”
Johnson said Glock should be held accountable and responsible
for third-party switches criminals are using illicitly to turn
semi-automatic firearms into full-auto.
Glock did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
In federal court last year, the National Shooting Sports
Foundation sued over the firearms industry liability law. That
lawsuit is pending.
Separately in Madison County, Piasa Armory sued. That case also
involves a challenge to the state law that limits where people
can sue the state. A Madison County judge recently found
limiting where people can sue the state is unconstitutional.
Senate Minority Leader John Curran, R-Downers Grove, said the
law goes too far.
“That is another broad overreach that is really questionable
constitutionally and that was brought up and talked about
extensively during debate,” Curran told The Center Square. “This
case is really interesting because this case could actually
strike down two of the governor's initiatives from last session
because the underlying case is the suit challenging the civil
liability for firearms manufacturers.”
Curran said Democrats should take note to not pass
unconstitutional measures.
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