April 3, 2025

NSSF Files to Block Maryland’s Anti-PLCAA Law

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — NSSF^®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, filed a lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland seeking to block Maryland’s Gun Industry Accountability Act, or House Bill 947, that attempts to circumvent the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA). The PLCAA prohibits frivolous lawsuits against members of the firearm industry for the criminal misuse of lawfully sold legal firearms by remote third parties. NSSF also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to enjoin enforcement of the law by Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown.

Maryland’s Gun Industry Accountability Act is part of a coordinated effort by antigun state legislatures, their attorneys general and gun control special interest groups to engage in lawfare against the firearm industry as an “end run” around the bipartisan PLCAA which Congress passed in 2005. For example, Maryland’s AG Brown, along with the City of Baltimore, filed a lawsuit against GLOCK, Inc., claiming the company is responsible for the criminal misuse of its lawfully sold firearms when criminals illegally obtain and unlawfully attach so-called machinegun conversion devices and then criminally misuse those illegally altered firearms.

In enacting the PLCAA, Congress explained it was because antigun politicians were using the courts to “attempt to circumvent the Legislative branch of government” and “expand civil liability in a manner never contemplated by the framers of the Constitution.” Recently, antigun states began a new lawfare tactic by enacting laws codifying vague “reasonableness” standards to hold law-abiding firearm industry members liable for harms caused by criminals who misuse their lawfully sold legal products.

Recognizing AG Brown will wield House Bill 947 to sue other industry members for their lawful commerce and the grave danger the law’s unconstitutionally vague “reasonableness” standard for creating or contributing to a “public nuisance” poses to lawful commerce, NSSF filed this lawsuit on behalf of its over 10,000 members. A wide variety of NSSF members – including manufacturers, distributors and retailers – filed declarations in support of NSSF’s motion for a preliminary injunction because of concerns they face liability under House Bill 947’s vague and subjective requirement to “establish and implement reasonable controls” to prevent criminals from misusing their products.

“The PLCAA prohibits the type of lawsuit brought by Maryland Attorney General Brown against GLOCK, Inc.,” explained Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “Attorney General Brown is targeting perfectly legal commerce. Maryland’s law that seeks to impose a gun control agenda through litigation not only runs afoul of the PLCAA, but it also violates the First Amendment by limiting protected commercial free speech, the Commerce Clause and the Second Amendment.”

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About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.

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Media contact:
Mark Oliva
202-220-1340

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