For the first time in U.S. history, a gunmaker will be held responsible for a mass shooting.
Remington Arms agreed to pay relatives of adults and children killed during the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School $73 million, as ABC News reported.
The outlet noted the settlement comes more than seven years after families filed a lawsuit against the maker of the gun used in the shooting.
According to ABC News, the families “argued Remington negligently entrusted to civilian consumers an assault-style rifle that is suitable for use only by military and law enforcement personnel and violated the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act through the sale or wrongful marketing of the rifle.”
In July 2020, the company filed for bankruptcy protection, arguing “all of the plaintiffs’ legal theories were barred under Connecticut law and by a federal statute — the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act — which, with limited exceptions, immunizes firearms manufacturers, distributors and dealers from civil liability for crimes committed by third parties using their weapons.”
The gunman, Adam Lanza, opened fire on December 14, 2012, killing 20 first-graders and six educators.
The settlement comes just one day after the anniversary of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
President Joe Biden issued a statement, saying, “We can never bring back those we’ve lost. But we can come together to fulfill the first responsibility of our government and our democracy: to keep each other safe.”
He added, “For Parkland, for all those we’ve lost, and for all those left behind, it is time to uphold that solemn obligation.”
Gun control activist David Hogg criticized Biden for failing to take action on guns, as IJR reported.
“I’m disappointed. And frankly, if I could say one thing to the president, it’s that we need you to go out and act right now before the next Parkland happens. Because there are things that you can do right now to help prevent it that you have not done. We need you to make good on your promises,” Hogg said.
