3 gun stores settle NYC lawsuit

Three more gun shops have settled a lawsuit accusing them of selling weapons that later fell into the hands of New York criminals, city officials announced Tuesday.

The shops, in Marietta, Ga., Youngstown, Ohio, and North Myrtle Beach, S.C., were among 27 gun dealers sued by New York City last year as part of an unorthodox legal battle against the firearms industry.

City lawyers argued the shops failed to abide by rules aimed at preventing illegal sales known as straw purchases, which is when one person buys a weapon on behalf of someone else.

Twelve of the dealers have settled with the city. Each agreed to allow a city-appointed inspector to monitor its future sales and provide extra training to store personnel.

Managers and owners at the shops said financial considerations prompted their decision to settle.

"It was going to cost $50,000 in attorney's fees," said Rick Morketter, manager of Dick's Pawn, of North Myrtle Beach. "We wanted to take the path of least resistance."

Melissa Paulette, co-owner of Hot Shots Jewelry & Pawn, of Marietta, said she had no problem opening her records or putting her clerks through extra training. But she added it was impossible for merchants to guess what customers intend to do with the weapons they buy.

Over eight years, the three stores involved in the settlement collectively sold 61 guns later seized by New York police in connection with crimes, according to the city's lawsuit.