D.C. Sniper Victims Get $2.5 Million Settlement

In what has been termed a landmark case, the families of eight D.C. sniper victims have reached a $2.5 million settlement in their lawsuit against the manufacturer and the gun dealer who sold the rifle used in the shooting spree in the fall of 2002.

According to the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, the case marks the first time a gun manufacturer has ever agreed to pay a settlement to gunshot victims. "This settlement sends a loud message to all gun manufacturers that they can't look the other way when their guns are being irresponsibly sold or secured at the retail level," said Jon Lowy, a lawyer with the Brady Center.

Bushmaster Firearms of Maine agreed to pay $550,000 and Bull's Eye Shooter Supply of Tacoma, Washington agreed to pay $2 million in the settlement. All of Bushmaster's share will be paid by its insurance company.

The basis of the plaintiff's lawsuit was that Bushmaster sold firearms to a gun dealer that had a record of poor security at its store. Bull's Eye could not account for the sale of 233 weapons when investigated by the ATF. In fact, investigators believe that convicted teenaged sniper Lee Boyd Malvo shoplifted the .223-caliber XM 14 Bushmaster rifle from the store.

See Seattle Times: Gun Dealer and Manufacturer Settle in Sniper Lawsuit