Make a difference 

by supporting the litigation efforts for three Adirondack-based FFLs!

What's Going On?

In June 2022, NY S.4970-A was passed on the last day of regular session. At the time, there were 1,791 federally-licensed dealers in firearms with business premises in New York. The new laws are NY General Business Law section 875 went into effect 12.05.2022.

Only 3 FFLs were targeted by NY Attorney General Letitia James.

All 3 filed on-going lawsuits in state and federal courts to stop the political agenda designed to put them and similarly-situated dealers out of business. Since June 2022, more than 20% of dealers have terminated or otherwise not renewed their FFL.

And that number remains in a free fall.

By July 2023, NYS Police Officers started to show up on-site at FFLs around the state with a “checklist” relating to the new laws. Officers said it was for “informational” and “educational” purposes, and as part of a “survey for the NY Attorney General.”  But the NYS Police published 2023 and 2024 1-page reports with aggregate “inspection” failures.

To this day, there has been no NYSP to Dealer feedback on any drop-by. The official, public position of the NYS Police on its website remains unchanged that it has not started “inspections” under NY GBL 875-g(2)(b) and that Dealers will be given notice when they do. In fact, on July 18, 2025, an official from the NYS Police spoke to the media and, in print, the official position became the NYS Police has “no regulatory authority” over Dealers and can only “help” them come into compliance with the new laws.

In a political sidewinder, the NY Attorney General started pursuit of 3 state and federally-licensed dealers in firearms located in North Country through a scheme designed to evade judicial review.  She launched extra-judicial subpoenas without concurrent judicial oversight, direct contact with FFLs without notice of the potential legal consequences, and even a “press release” and court filings containing what is known at law as “false facts.”  The test cases were targeted of a political agenda to defeat the 2005 federal PLCAA statute and the unanimous 2025 SCOTUS decision in Smith & Wesson v. Mexico.

Will you join the effort?

3% Cover the Fee

Contributions will be applied to expenses as incurred for the state and federal litigation involving Bowman's Gun Shop, Blue Line Sports, and Woods & Waters. These businesses are state and federally-licensed dealers in firearms. More about the individual cases can be found throughout this website. A contribution towards expenses is not a tax-deductible event. The funds go into an attorney-managed escrow (IOLA) account, and withdrawn to pay expenses. A contribution does not create an attorney-client relationship. It is not tax deductible.

To save these 3 FFLs.

To save our industry in NY.

To prevent this from happening in other states by creating a binding judicial precedent that protects and preserves civil rights.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • A: Because fighting for the civil rights of all is expensive. A civil rights lawsuit is bigger by word count and pages, by number of copies required to be printed and served, by court filing fees, by duration to achieve orders, and by professional services provided through outside litigation support companies that specialize in appellate filings. Even a single issue state appeal can run thousands of dollars in production costs and filing fees.

  • A: yes! And it is appreciated! Participating as a named plaintiff in civil rights litigation is daunting. You know you are representing many, but litigation tends to be an isolating event. It is not a rally or a political meeting. It is papers, drafted by a lawyer, filed to a court, where even the lawyer might see a judge only once a year in a given case. Every contribution helps an individual plaintiff feel connected to the people who will be impacted by the efforts undertaken.

  • A: directly into the escrow account for the law office of Paloma A. Capanna, from which it will be applied directly to expenses as incurred for the litigation in state and federal courts involving Bowman’s Gun Shop, Blue Line Sports, and Woods & Waters.

  • A: It is not. The moneys that you contribute go into the client escrow fund and will be applied to the expenses of the Bowman v. James and Blue Line Sports and Woods & Waters v. James cases in state and federal courts. This is a direct application. It is not passing through a separate or intermediary non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.

  • A: it will not. A contribution towards expenses in a lawsuit does not create an attorney-client relationship, nor does it allow any communication that would otherwise be confidential to the actual client.