In a joint lawsuit filed on Tuesday, the attorneys general for Maryland and Washington, D.C. have targeted three gun shops that sold nearly three dozen firearms to a man involved in trafficking weapons in and around the nation's capital. The lawsuit alleges that at least nine of these guns have been linked to crime scenes and individuals wanted for violent offenses, with many others still unaccounted for.

The surge in illegal weapons in Washington, D.C. has raised concerns about gun violence, as the city witnessed its highest number of homicides in over three decades last year, with more than 90% of those crimes involving firearms. According to D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, a significant portion of these firearms originate from Maryland or Virginia, neighboring areas with less stringent gun laws.

Attorney General Anthony Brown of Maryland stated, "Many of us have been curious about the source of these illicit firearms, and now we have part of the answer." The lawsuit aims to seek unspecified damages and legal action to prevent future straw purchases, a practice where individuals buy guns on behalf of those who are unable to possess firearms legally.

Straw purchases and illegal firearms trafficking are major contributors to Washington, D.C.'s gun violence problem. While some firearms are stolen, data from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives reveals that most of the guns recovered in Washington, D.C. can be traced back to straw sales. Schwalb underlined that about 95% of these firearms originate from Maryland or Virginia.

This lawsuit is the first of its kind to be filed jointly by the attorneys general of Maryland and Washington, D.C., joining a wave of civil suits against gun shops across the nation. Similar actions have been taken in New Jersey, Minnesota, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Kansas City.

Notably, licensed firearm dealers collaborate with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to identify potential straw purchases. Larry Keane, Senior Vice President at the National Shooting Sports Foundation, emphasized that retailers cannot always identify warning signs due to the fast-paced nature of their work environment.

The lawsuit, filed in partnership with gun safety group Everytown Law, alleges that the three Maryland-based gun shops failed to respond to multiple warning signs, including bulk purchasing and repetitive sales. Two of the shops, Engage Armament LLC and Atlantic Guns, Inc., have not yet provided a comment, while United Gun Shop declined to comment on the matter.

The lawsuit revolves around the transactions made with Demetrius Minor, who purchased nearly three dozen firearms from these gun shops in a span of seven months in 2021. The suit claims that the majority of these firearms were trafficked to individuals who were legally prohibited from buying firearms.

Demetrius Minor has already pleaded guilty to one count of dealing in firearms without a license. As part of a plea deal, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. At this time, his attorney has not responded to requests for comment on the matter.

The lawsuit against these gun shops sheds light on the urgent need to address illegal firearms trafficking and straw purchases, aiming to curb gun violence and protect communities in the nation's capital and beyond.