The Forge of Freedom

Show Notes Episode 199. City of Gary v. Smith & Wesson: Ending 26 Years of Lawfare In this episode of the Forge of Freedom podcast, host Alex Ooley discusses the recent dismissal of the City of Gary versus Smith and Wesson lawsuit, a case that has lasted over 26 years. The conversation delves into the concept of lawfare, where the legal system is used as a weapon to impose costs and achieve policy outcomes without legislative action. Ooley explains the implications of the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) and the Indiana General Assembly's recent legislation that limits the ability of cities to sue firearm manufacturers. The episode concludes with reflections on the broader implications of this case for the legal system and democratic accountability. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and New Year Greetings 00:30 The Dismissal of City of Gary vs. Smith and Wesson 01:10 Understanding Lawfare and Its Implications 06:07 The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act 08:55 The Role of Indiana's Legislation in the Case 10:32 Broader Implications of the Case on Law and Policy Resources Smith & Wesson Corp. v. City of Gary (Ind.App., 2025) https://public.courts.in.gov/Decisions/api/Document/Opinion?Id=gGTF-6-ACU7XYO2CNCjB7ZhYnzf0SvNDQ4wFQBfGLJhtN15JdMI2r-U_SAoZIlYD0 Guy Relford https://omny.fm/shows/the-gun-guy-podcast/gun-guy-full-show-12-27-2025 Facebook: @guy.relford.2025 X:  @guyrelford AG Todd Rokita https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1289904319820449&set=a.230626505748241 @agtoddrokita The Reload https://thereload.com/indiana-appeals-court-tosses-26-year-old-liability-lawsuit-against-smith-and-wesson/ X:  @Jake_Fogleman @TheReloadSite Morningstar https://www.morningstar.com/news/pr-newswire/20251230dc54832/nssf-praises-indiana-court-decision-to-end-city-of-gary-lawsuit Indy Star https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2025/12/29/indiana-court-of-appeals-upholds-indiana-law-to-kill-garys-gun-lawsuit/87948004007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z115150p116250c116250d00----v115150d--44--b--44--&gca-ft=165&gca-ds=sophi @jordantsmith09 Reason.com https://reason.com/volokh/2025/12/29/26-year-old-case-against-smith-wesson-et-al-by-gary-indiana-finally-over/ @VolokhC @reason The Indiana Lawyer https://www.theindianalawyer.com/articles/in-court-of-appeals-rules-lower-court-must-dismiss-gary-lawsuit-against-gun-industry @Indiana_Lawyer PLCAA https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title15/chapter105&edition=prelim Duke Center for Firearms Law https://firearmslaw.duke.edu/2019/12/new-decision-in-a-very-old-case-city-of-gary-v-smith-wesson-corp @DukeFirearmsLaw Keywords lawfare, City of Gary, Smith and Wesson, firearms litigation, legal system, public nuisance, PLCAA, Indiana General Assembly, separation of powers, democratic accountability DISCLAIMER:  This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal, medical, or financial advice. The views expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organizations or individuals they may mention. The hosts and guests are not liable for any damages that may result from someone listening to this podcast.