Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown joined a groundbreaking coalition of 16 state attorneys general aimed at tackling the devastating impact of gun violence by holding irresponsible members of the firearms industry accountable. The coalition, the first of its kind, seeks to reduce gun violence through coordinated enforcement of state civil liability and consumer protection laws, ensuring that firearms manufacturers, distributors, and retailers are held to the highest standards of public safety.
“Gun violence tears our communities apart and threatens Maryland families’ safety. The companies that make up the firearms industry must do their part to help us address this life-threatening epidemic,” said Attorney General Brown. “This partnership ensures that if those companies prioritize profits over people, we will hold them accountable.”
The coalition’s formation follows growing concerns about the role of firearms dealers in fueling gun violence, particularly through unlawful sales and gun trafficking. Several attorneys general, including Brown, have already taken action within their states to curb these practices. Notably, Brown’s office, in partnership with the District of Columbia, has filed a lawsuit against three Maryland-based firearms dealers accused of engaging in illegal straw purchasing—where firearms are bought by individuals who then pass them on to others who cannot legally own them.
The lawsuit targets Engage Armament, LLC; United Gun Shop; and Atlantic Guns, Inc., all located in Montgomery County, Maryland. The suit alleges that between 2020 and 2021, these dealers sold 34 firearms to a known straw purchaser, Demetrius Minor, who then trafficked the guns, contributing to gun violence across the region.
“Federally licensed gun dealers know the law and they know what to look for to spot possible illegal trafficking,” Brown said. “As this lawsuit demonstrates, gun dealers cannot just ignore warning signs of illegal purchases. If they do, we will hold them accountable for fueling gun violence across our region.”
The defendants in the case sold firearms to Minor despite clear indicators that he was engaging in illegal straw purchases, including bulk buying and frequent transactions within short time frames. The firearms sold by these dealers have been linked to criminal activity, with at least nine of the guns recovered at crime scenes across Washington, D.C., and nearby Maryland suburbs. Some of the guns have been found in possession of individuals with active warrants for violent offenses.
District of Columbia Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb emphasized the regional nature of the problem, noting that many of the firearms trafficked from Maryland and Virginia end up in crime scenes in the D.C. area. “The level of gun violence in the District, and the devastating impact it has on victims, families, and our community as a whole, is unacceptable,” Schwalb said. “We are holding these firearms dealers accountable for their negligence and blatant disregard for the law.”
The lawsuit highlights the role that gun dealers play in preventing illegal gun trafficking, a responsibility that these defendants allegedly ignored, allowing firearms to enter the illegal secondary market.
The coalition’s push for stricter enforcement and accountability comes amid a broader national effort to combat gun violence, which costs the U.S. economy over $500 billion annually, according to a report by the Joyce Foundation. Gun violence, which includes homicides, injuries, and the emotional toll on communities, has become a persistent epidemic, and state leaders are intensifying efforts to address the issue head-on.
The lawsuit seeks to stop these unlawful practices and hold the gun dealers financially accountable for their role in exacerbating gun violence. It also calls for the imposition of reforms that would ensure such practices are not repeated.
The full complaint is available here
The 16-state coalition, which includes attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont, shares the same goal: to hold the firearms industry accountable when its practices lead to unlawful sales and trafficking, putting lives at risk. The coalition is leveraging each state’s civil liability and consumer protection laws to ensure firearms businesses comply with the law and prioritize public safety.
Attorney General Brown’s office has pledged to continue fighting for policies that will prevent the illegal distribution of firearms, with the goal of reducing the deadly toll of gun violence in Maryland and across the country.
“This lawsuit puts any other bad-faith dealers who prioritize profits over the law and public safety on notice,” said Eric Tirschwell, Executive Director of Everytown Law, which supports the coalition’s efforts. “Traffickers and straw purchasers will be held accountable, but so too will the gun stores that ignore suspicious purchasing behaviors.”
The legal action by Maryland and its partners underscores the increasing resolve of state governments to tackle gun violence by holding the firearms industry accountable and protecting public safety.
