Court Abstains From Gun Groups’ Suit Over Maryland Nuisance Law

A Maryland federal court refused to hear a challenge to the state’s civil nuisance law for gun makers while a similar state case proceeds.

Applying the federal abstention doctrine, the National Shooting Sports Foundation Inc.'s federal suit is substantially related to an ongoing state suit against a NSSF member, said Judge Robert S. Ballou in a Tuesday opinion for the US District Court for the District of Maryland. Ballou abstained from further proceedings on the matter and dismissed the case without prejudice.

NSSF had associational standing to bring this suit, Ballou said, but under the Younger v. Harris abstention, ...