(WEAA)— Baltimore City has filed lawsuit against Polymer80, Inc., the nation's largest ghost gun manufacturer.
Mayor Brandon Scott made the announcement Wednesday alongside Kris Brown, President, Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence, Dr. Joseph Sakran, the Director of Emergency General Surgery at Johns Hopkins, and Michael Sullivan, Deputy Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department.
The lawsuit alleges negligence, public nuisance, and violations of the Maryland Consumer Protection Act.
“Ghost guns are a devastating menace to the people of Baltimore,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott. “This lawsuit shines a light on Polymer80 and individuals who routinely create a marketplace for deadly, untraceable weapons. The availability of these weapons – particularly to criminals, juveniles and other people who are prohibited from owning a firearm – presents a growing public health crisis. We must stop Polymer80 and companies like it that profit from destroying our communities.”
The lawsuit states, Polymer80 intentionally undermines federal and state firearms laws by designing, manufacturing, selling and providing ghost gun kits and parts to buyers who do not undergo a background check.
“Polymer80 must be held accountable for its role in creating the ghost gun crisis in Baltimore,” said Steve Kelly, Partner and Co-Chair of Sanford Heisler Sharp’s Criminal/Sexual Violence Practice Group.
According to officials, in 2021, the Baltimore Police Department recovered 324 ghost guns, or 14% of all firearms recovered. So far this year, the BPD has recovered more than 187 ghost guns, nearly double the number of last year for the same time period and 19% of all guns recovered so far this year.
“This lawsuit is the first step in accountability and, hopefully, ending the flow of these deadly firearms in the community,” added Brady Senior Litigation Counsel Philip Bangle.
The lawsuit requests compensatory damages for policing costs to the City of Baltimore, punitive damages and injunctive relief requiring Polymer80 to stop the flow of ghost guns into Baltimore City.
Maryland’s ban on the sale of ghost guns went into effect on June 1, 2022.