Misguided Lawsuit

Gunmaker, dealers not to blame for Sandy Hook

It was a tragic day—five years ago next month— when Adam Lanza, a deeply disturbed young man just a year out of his teens, opened fire at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn.

Twenty-six people died at the school, including 20 children. Two others were wounded. Lanza had killed his mother earlier that day. After the massacre he killed himself.

Lanza’s weapon of choice was a Bushmaster XM15E2S, a semi-automatic rifle modeled on the well-known AR-15. The weapon had been purchased legally by his mother.

Relatives of the Sandy Hook victims filed a lawsuit against Remington, the makers of the Bushmaster, in 2014 claiming the marketing campaign for the gun was responsible for Lanza’s actions. They also filed suit against the wholesaler and retailer of the rifle used in the attack.

The lawsuit was dismissed by a state court judge last year. In our view, the judge was right to do so. Now the families have appealed to the Connecticut Supreme Court, which heard arguments Tuesday. And we expect they will come to the same decision.

The grief over the senseless killings is understandable. And the desire to lash out as well. But Remington did not pull the trigger that day. Adam Lanza did. The wholesaler did not pull the trigger. Adam Lanza did. And the retailer did not sell the gun to a troubled young man. It was sold to his mother who was legally entitled to purchase such a gun.

Adam Lanza took that weapon. He killed his mother. He went to the school and slaughtered those innocent children and adults.

We feel for the families. Deeply so. But there is only one person to blame for Sandy Hook—Adam Lanza.

The lawsuit should not be reinstated.