Hatcher celebrates survival of 25-year Gary lawsuit, objects gun lobby’s attempted interference in state court

Yesterday, Aug. 12, a civil division of the Lake Superior Court denied the motion to dismiss the 25-year lawsuit Gary v. Glock Corp. (1999). The motion followed the State’s attempted intervention in the suit through the passage of House Enrolled Act 1235, which prohibits any entity but the state of Indiana from pursuing legal action against firearms manufacturers. HEA 1235 retroactively went into effect on Aug. 27, 1999 – three days before the City of Gary filed their nuisance suit. The motion to dismiss was denied to avoid violating Gary’s Memorandum of Law. 

State Rep. Ragen Hatcher (D-Gary), an attorney, released the following statement: 

“The state attempted to intervene in this 25-year lawsuit on behalf of the gun lobby. When the legislature passed this law, they breached the separation of powers of Indiana’s three branches of government. The legislature attempted to interfere in the courts and provide firearm manufacturers with a degree of legal immunity. I became an attorney because I believe in the power of justice and the rule of law. Yesterday’s decision upheld the rule of law, and the court recognized the importance of this lawsuit to Gary and Indiana’s other urban communities. Yet again, the gun lobby tried to stop this lawsuit and yet again Gary prevailed.

“I was in school in 1999, and at that time Gary was the murder capital of the world. I remember this lawsuit being filed and it felt like we were taking action. We were doing something to combat the rise in gun violence and increase public safety. Gary has improved immensely since then in part due to this lawsuit. This lawsuit warns firearm manufacturers that we noticed their predatory practices. We noticed that they were pumping guns to retailers even though our community was suffering.  

“This is a major win that our community deserves. My father, the late Mayor Richard Gordon Hatcher, once said ‘No one will save us but us.' This lawsuit is a piece of the change we, as a community, want to see. I am thankful this lawsuit lives.”

Hatcher calls on Indiana’s federal congressional delegation to continue bipartisan gun safety progress

On Thursday (June 13), State Rep. Ragen Hatcher (D-Gary) sent a letter to Indiana's federal congressional calling upon them to continue Indiana's recent run of successful bipartisan gun safety laws in both the state legislature and Congress. The ATF's new “Engaged in the Business” rule clarifies when a person needs to become a licensed dealer and run background checks and gives local law enforcement as well as the Department of Justice additional tools to prevent prohibited individuals from illegally obtaining firearms. 

In recent weeks,  the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing to discuss overturning the rule. Nine members of the Indiana House Democratic Caucus asked Indiana’s congressional delegation to uphold the common-sense “Engaged in the Business” rule and protect Hoosiers from gun violence. 

Rep. Hatcher released the following statement: 

“Gary is known for a complicated history with gun violence. In 1999, our city was dubbed the ‘murder capital of America,’ and a majority of those deaths involved firearms. The city has worked tirelessly in the past two decades to promote responsible gun ownership and crack down on illegal firearm sales. The ATF’s rule supports Gary by defining who is and isn’t a licensed dealer and ensuring they properly run a background check. 

“This protection is essential to prevent unlicensed dealers from illegally trafficking guns into our community – which has already been targeted by firearm manufacturers themselves. I hope that Indiana’s federal delegation recognizes what this rule means to Gary and protects Hoosiers from the tragedy of gun violence.”

Hatcher stands up for Gary’s ‘Welcoming City’ ordinance after threat of legal action

Earlier this month, the Indiana Attorney General threatened to sue municipalities over their immigration policies – including Gary and East Chicago. Both cities have “Welcoming City” ordinances that limit involvement with federal officials regarding an individual's citizenship or immigration status. In 2022, after a five-year court battle, Indiana’s Appellate Court upheld the ordinance finding it largely compliant with state immigration laws. 

State Rep. Ragen Hatcher (D-Gary) released the following statement: 

“This threat of legal action for Gary’s ‘Welcoming City’ ordinance is a gross misstep of the Attorney General. The state continues to interfere in the day-to-day operations of majority-minority communities. It’s no secret that Gary is the city with the largest percentage minority population in Indiana. For decades, we’ve been a place of refuge for people of color who felt like they could safely live and raise their family here. I voted for this ordinance in 2017 when I was on the City Council to uphold this long-standing tradition. 

”As an attorney, I find the threat of legal action unnecessary. This ordinance was already litigated and spent five years in the court of law. One of Indiana’s highest court’s restored portions of the ordinance and believed it was compliant with state law. This isn’t a legal move; it is part of a national culture war surrounding immigration that has no place in the Hoosier state.”