Without recognizing the obvious antitrust violations, they expect gun companies simply to reduce sales. Given that citizens use guns to prevent crimes about five times more frequently than crimes are committed with guns, equal percentage reductions in gun ownership by good guys and bad guys will lead to more crime. Higher prices will most hurt those who most need guns for protection. Minorities who live in poor urban areas face the greatest risks from crime. They will be among the first squeezed out by higher prices.
Lawsuits seek to bypass the legislative process.
If politicians are determined to reduce the use of a product, taxes or regulations accomplish that end more effectively. But Congress and state legislatures have decided against more controls. The plaintiffs now want the courts to punish law-abiding manufacturers for past sales that complied with the law. These were unusual sting operations, in which the police somehow failed to record any of the conversations and have yet to file criminal complaints. The gun dealers faced a no-win situation.