NEW YORK — New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a $1.75 million settlement with gun accessory manufacturer MEAN LLC, known as Mean Arms, and a permanent ban on the sale of its detachable magazine lock in New York after the device was used by the gunman in the 2022 mass shooting at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo.
The settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by the Office of the Attorney General in May 2023, which alleged that Mean Arms aided the shooter in illegally possessing an assault weapon. New York law bans assault weapons and high-capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
Mean Arms manufactures and sells a magazine lock known as the MA Lock, marketed as a device to fix a magazine to a rifle to comply with state law. According to the attorney general’s office, the device could be easily removed, allowing users to attach detachable, high-capacity magazines. The Buffalo shooter purchased an AR-15-style rifle with the MA Lock installed, removed it using instructions allegedly provided by the company, and inserted 30-round magazines, converting the firearm into what authorities described as an illegal assault weapon.
Under the terms of the settlement, Mean Arms will permanently stop selling the MA Lock in New York, remove any claims that the product is legal in the state, label packaging to state it cannot be sold or resold in New York, and notify businesses that the product cannot be distributed to individuals or companies in the state. The company will also pay $1.75 million in restitution to victims’ families, injured individuals and survivors, with payments distributed based on an independent assessment of damages.
The May 14, 2022 shooting left 10 people dead and three others injured in what authorities described as a racially motivated attack. State and local officials said the ease with which the rifle was modified increased the deadliness of the shooting.
James said the settlement represents accountability and ensures the device will no longer be available in New York. Families of victims and local leaders called the agreement an important step, while acknowledging that no financial settlement can undo the harm caused by the attack.
The case was brought in partnership with Everytown for Gun Safety, GIFFORDS, and several law firms representing victims and survivors.
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