Guns Overwhelm D.C. as Maryland and D.C. Attorneys General Name Sellers

The capital of the United States is facing a serious issue with an influx of firearms, and officials are looking to three federally licensed gun stores in Maryland as key players in the problem.

On Tuesday, the attorneys general for Maryland and Washington D.C. lodged a lawsuit against these three gun shops, accusing them of selling firearms to a straw purchaser. This claim is backed by a report that outlines these stores as the primary retailers of guns that have been recovered at crime scenes in Maryland from August 2020 to July 2021.

The lawsuit details that these three stores, located in Montgomery County—approximately 25 miles northwest of D.C.—sold a total of 34 semiautomatic pistols to a single purchaser over a span of just six months. Prosecutors noted that only two of the weapons remained with this individual, raising concerns that the remainder may have been illegally trafficked.

Some of the trafficked weapons were found in the possession of individuals involved in violent crimes, including assaults and drug distribution, while many others are still missing. This situation is particularly alarming as gun violence continues to be a pressing public health concern across the nation.

Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown emphasized the role of licensed gun dealers, stating, “They know the law and what to look for in spotting potential illegal trafficking.” He further warned that dealers who prioritize profit over public safety would face accountability for their actions, which contribute to the ongoing issue of gun violence across the region.

The rise in gun violence has drawn attention from public health experts and advocates alike. Currently, firearms have become the leading cause of deaths among children in the U.S., resulting in nearly 50,000 fatalities each year. As a result, there have been numerous lawsuits in different states targeting sellers and traffickers implicated in promoting gun crimes.

According to the lawsuit, the three accused stores—Engage Armament, United Gun Shop, and Atlantic Guns—reportedly sold 34 guns to Demetrius Minor, labeled as an “obvious straw purchaser,” between April and October 2021. Engage Armament’s records, referenced in the lawsuit, show that Minor spent over $31,000 to acquire at least 25 guns, visiting the store multiple times, including four transactions in July 2021 where he purchased five firearms.

Minor allegedly transferred several of these weapons to a relative, Donald Willis, who has a history of violent felonies in Washington D.C. Willis then distributed these firearms to other individuals deemed dangerous. While Minor has been convicted for his involvement in these illicit transactions, the stores accused in the lawsuit have not faced any repercussions for their actions that are said to significantly fuel the gun violence crisis in the D.C. metropolitan area.

The lawsuit highlights that at least nine of the firearms, considered “illegally sold,” were discovered at various crime scenes in Washington D.C. and nearby Maryland suburbs. The legal issues surrounding the firearms underscore concerns that many others could be in the hands of individuals legally prohibited from owning guns and could be utilized in future criminal activities.

Central to the allegations is the federally mandated ATF firearms transaction record, which gun dealers are required to use to assess the legality of gun sales. The form clarifies that straw purchases are illegal, and it is the seller’s responsibility to ensure the transaction is lawful. Merely conducting a background check does not exempt dealers from their obligations.

In addition, the lawsuit asserts that helping facilitate illegal sales is against the law for firearm dealers, and federal mandates dictate that licensed sellers must report when an unlicensed buyer acquires two or more handguns within a five-day period.

In response to the allegations, Atlantic Guns has denied any wrongdoing, stating that they have never and will never knowingly sell to anyone engaged in a straw purchase. They opted not to provide further details pending a review of the lawsuit. Meanwhile, Engage Armament and United Gun Shop have not yet responded to requests for comments regarding the case.

This recent lawsuit is part of a broader trend across the nation as cities and shooting victims take action against firearm retailers and traffickers in an effort to combat escalating gun violence. For example, Philadelphia has initiated a lawsuit against vendors identified as the sources of over 1,300 crime guns used in various violent activities.

Further incidents have highlighted the serious nature of illicit gun sales, such as the criminal charges against three Missouri men who unlawfully sold firearms to individuals connected to a tragic shooting event during a Super Bowl victory parade, which resulted in significant casualties. Other lawsuits in Michigan and Indiana regarding negligent sales by gun shops also reflect the growing dissatisfaction with how firearms are distributed.

A recent investigation revealed that a small percentage of gun shops are responsible for a large portion of firearms used in crimes, further illustrating the concerns surrounding gun sales regulation. Two of the gun shops implicated in Tuesday’s lawsuit were previously listed as having sold multiple guns associated with criminal activity.

Source: USA Today