The State of Minnesota’s lawsuit against Fleet Farm for negligently selling firearms to straw purchasers will proceed to trial after Attorney General Ellison’s Office prevailed in court over Fleet Farm’s attempt to obtain summary judgment and dismiss the lawsuit, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison announced today.

“It is essential that we hold individuals who commit gun violence accountable, and if businesses break the law and contribute to that violence, they must be held accountable as well,” said Attorney General Keith Ellison. “Fleet Farm ignored numerous red flags and sold guns to straw purchasers who then sold those deadly weapons on the black market. Today’s ruling means Minnesota will have the opportunity to prove in court that Fleet Farm violated the law and jeopardized the safety of Minnesotans. I look forward to putting this case in front of a jury of 12 Minnesotans, and I will continue to use all the tools at my disposal to improve public safety in Minnesota.”