New York Attorney General Sues Gun Shop Owner for Reckless Security Practices

New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against Bowman's Gun Shop and its owner, Timothy Bowman, for violating the state's gun safety laws and storing guns and ammunition in an unsafe manner. Two burglaries at the shop led to the theft of 58 guns and dozens of boxes of ammunition, with some of the stolen guns trafficked to New York City, Philadelphia, and even internationally to Barbados. Despite these incidents, Bowman has persisted in violating New York's gun safety laws and has not taken adequate steps to improve security at the store.

Key Takeaways:

• The lawsuit alleges that Bowman's Gun Shop failed to have a security plan, properly store firearms, and install and maintain a security alarm system from a licensed alarm system operator.
• The shop was burglarized twice, resulting in the theft of 58 guns and dozens of boxes of ammunition, with some of the stolen guns trafficked to New York City, Philadelphia, and Barbados.
• Bowman has a history of violating New York's gun safety laws, including having his license and permit suspended in 2019 after an investigation by the New York State Police (NYSP).
• The NYSP inspected Bowman's Gun Shop in October 2023 and concluded that it did not comply with legal safety requirements for gun stores.
• The lawsuit seeks to ban Bowman from owning or operating a gun store in New York and to collect disgorgement, penalties, and fees.
• Attorney General James has been a national leader in gun safety, successfully defending New York's firearms accountability law and fining Walmart for shipping illegal realistic toy guns to New York.
• Since taking office, Attorney General James has removed more than 9,000 guns out of New York communities through gun buybacks.

Statistics:

• 58 guns were stolen in the two burglaries at Bowman's Gun Shop.
• Dozens of boxes of ammunition were stolen in the burglaries.
• Some of the stolen guns were trafficked to New York City, Philadelphia, and even internationally to Barbados.
• 28 pistols, 12 revolvers, 9 rifles, and 2 shotguns were stolen in the second burglary in September 2020.
• The NYSP inspected Bowman's Gun Shop in October 2023 and concluded that it did not comply with legal safety requirements for gun stores.

Sources:

• Statement from New York Attorney General Letitia James, October 2023
• Suspension of Bowman's license and permit by the St. Lawrence County Court, April 2019
• Investigation by the New York State Police (NYSP), 2019
• Suspension of Bowman's license and permit, April 2019
• Burglary at Bowman's Gun Shop, September 2019
• Burglary at Bowman's Gun Shop, September 2020
• Inspection of Bowman's Gun Shop by the NYSP, October 2023
• Lawsuit filed by New York Attorney General Letitia James, October 2023