City of Gary v. Firearm Industry - Court Dismisses 26-Year Lawsuit

Indiana AG - Newsroom

Filed December 30th, 2025

Detected April 5th, 2026

Summary

The Indiana Court of Appeals unanimously dismissed the City of Gary's 26-year-old lawsuit against law-abiding firearm manufacturers and sellers. The appellate court upheld Indiana General Assembly legislation determining that only the State of Indiana, not individual municipalities, may pursue such actions against the firearms industry. This decision protects firearms accessibility for law-abiding Hoosiers.

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What changed

The Indiana Court of Appeals issued a unanimous ruling dismissing the City of Gary's 26-year-old lawsuit against firearm manufacturers and sellers, upholding state legislation that reserves the right to pursue such actions exclusively to the State of Indiana. The court rejected the city's attempt to use litigation to restrict how firearms are sold and distributed to lawful citizens.

Firearm manufacturers and retailers in Indiana are no longer exposed to municipal lawsuits seeking to force industry-wide restrictions on Second Amendment grounds. No compliance actions are required from firearms businesses. This ruling provides legal certainty that only state-level authorities, not individual cities, may pursue such actions against the firearms industry.

Source document (simplified)

Attorney General Todd Rokita and Team Secure Major Victory for Second Amendment Rights as Court of Appeals Dismisses City of Gary’s Decades-Old Lawsuit Against Firearm Industry

Tuesday, December 30, 2025

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Add to calendar Attorney General Todd Rokita and Team Secure Major Victory for Second Amendment Rights as Court of Appeals Dismisses City of Gary’s Decades-Old Lawsuit Against Firearm Industry

Victory reinforces state authority and protects law-abiding Hoosiers’ access to firearms

Attorney General Todd Rokita today issued the following statement on the Indiana Court of Appeals’ unanimous ruling dismissing the City of Gary’s 26-year-old lawsuit against law-abiding firearm manufacturers and sellers:

“The Indiana Court of Appeals has unanimously ruled in our favor, dismissing the City of Gary's 26-year-old lawsuit against law-abiding firearm manufacturers and sellers.

This decision upholds the General Assembly's legislation that states only the State of Indiana, not individual cities, may pursue such actions against the firearms industry.

This result helps to ensure that firearms remain available to law-abiding citizens, preventing a single city or handful of cities from using lawsuits to force changes to the way they are sold.

Our office will continue defending your constitutional rights and keeping firearms accessible to responsible, law-abiding citizens.”

Solicitor General James Barta, who argued the appeal on behalf of the State, added: “This unanimous ruling confirms the legislature’s clear intent and authority to preempt local governments from bringing these types of lawsuits, ensuring uniform statewide policy and protecting the rights of law-abiding Hoosiers from piecemeal litigation that could restrict access to firearms.”

A headshot of Attorney General Rokita is available for download.