The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, also seeks to force the 14 gunmakers named as defendants to add safety features to guns and change how the weapons are marketed and distributed. The governor's office is reviewing the lawsuit. Gov. Tom Ridge in December signed a bill barring local governments from suing firearms manufacturers. Philadelphia City Solicitor Kenneth Trujillo said the state law was narrowly tailored to ban lawsuits against the legal marketing of guns. The city contends gunmakers marketed their products illegally, he said.
Opponents say it is improper to hold gun manufacturers responsible for crimes.
D.C. Three of the lawsuits were dismissed and are under appeal.