AG James pushes back against NRA lawsuit

New York Attorney General Letitia James spoke out against a lawsuit the NRA filed against the state for not designating gun shops as “essential” businesses. Eagle file photo by Rob Abruzzese

By Victoria Merlino

New York Attorney General Letitia James vowed to push back against the National Rifle Association after the gun group filled a lawsuit against the state over its decision to deem gun retailers non-essential businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Thursday, the NRA filed a suit against New York over the designation, adding to similar suits already ongoing in California, according to The New York Times.

“Everyone — including the NRA — must follow the law and all executive orders of New York. We will aggressively defend the state against yet another legal assault by the NRA,” James said in a statement. 

Gov. Andrew Cuomo ordered all non-essential businesses in New York to go on ”pause” on March 20, causing a cascade of closures of every business in the state with exception to a handful of categories, such as grocery stores, gas stations and liquor stores. 

The NRA disagrees with Cuomo’s assessment that gun stores are not essential. 

“There isn’t a single person who has ever used a gun in self-defense who would consider it nonessential,” N.R.A. Chief Executive Wayne LaPierre said in a statement, according to the Times.