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AP
Neil Heslin holds up a picture of him and his son, Jesse, during testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee in February.
Under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, gun-makers are not liable for crimes committed with their products.
However, Judge Barbara Bellis ruled that
The suit names Remington Arms Co., the manufacturer of the Bushmaster AR-15 that was used in the shooting, Camfour Inc., a gun distributor, and Riverview Gun Sales, a now-defunct gun shop in Connecticut where the rifle was purchased by the shooter's mother in 2010, according to Newsweek.
The families are suing for wrongful death, and accused the gunmaker of selling a so-called civilian weapon that's designed and marketed for combat.
The judge's ruling is a potential blow to other gun manufacturers, which generally have broad immunity from litigation under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.