Families of Sandy Hook Victims Sue Gunmaker, Seller
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Win McNamee/Getty Images(NEWTOWN, Conn.) — Nearly half of the 26 families who lost loved ones in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting two years ago have filed a lawsuit against the maker of the gun used in the shooting and where it was sold.
Ten families are suing Bushmaster, the manufacturer of the AR-15 rifle that gunman Adam Lanza used to kill their loved ones, children and adults.
In addition to Bushmaster, the families have named Camfour, a firearm distributor, and Riverview Gun Sales, the store where the Bushmaster rifle was purchased in 2010.
The 10 families represent a mix of victims, students and teachers, and allege negligence and wrongful death in their suit.
They argue the AR-15 should never have been publicly sold because it’s a military style assault weapon.
“The AR-15 was specifically engineered for the United States Military to meet the needs of changing warfare,” said Josh Koskoff of Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder, the Connecticut firm representing the families. “In fact, one of the Army’s specifications for the AR-15 was that it has the capability to penetrate a steel helmet. This weapon was not designed for home defense or hunting. This weapon was designed to efficiently kill other human beings in combat.”
The suit says the AR-15 is legitimate for soldiers and police, but not for civilian use.
The filing was submitted to a court marshal on Friday.
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