A U.S. judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed against the manufacturer of the rifle used in the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in 2012.
The judge agreed with attorneys for Remington Arms Co. that a law passed by Congress in 2005 protects gun manufacturers from being sued for the use of their products in an illegal manner.
The lawsuit sought unspecified financial damages from Remington Arms, as well as firearms distributor Camfour Holding and gun store Riverview Sales, where the AR-15 rifle was purchased.
Lawyers on behalf of the families of the 26 people killed in the shooting argued that the assault weapon used in the attack in Newtown, Connecticut, should not have been sold in the civilian marketplace.
An attorney for the families vowed to appeal the decision.
“While the families are obviously disappointed with the judge’s decision, this is not the end of the fight,” attorney Josh Koskoff said in a statement.
The gunman’s mother legally bought the gun that was used in the mass shooting. Gunman Adam Lanza shot his mother before driving to the elementary school, where he killed 20 children and six adults. He killed himself as police arrived.
