New York Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit against a St. Lawrence County gun store, alleging multiple violations of the state’s gun safety laws. The suit targets Bowman's Gun Shop and its owner, Timothy Bowman, citing unsafe storage of firearms and ammunition, as well as insufficient security measures that allegedly led to theft and firearms trafficking. The Attorney General’s office is seeking to bar Bowman from owning or operating any gun store within New York State.
According to the lawsuit details from the Attorney General's press release, Bowman's Gun Shop faced two prior burglaries, where a total of 58 guns were stolen. During these incidents, thieves accessed the shop through an unlocked door and an open window. Guns trafficked as a result of the burglaries were recovered as far afield as New York City, Philadelphia, and internationally in Barbados. Despite these events, it's claimed that no significant steps were taken to enhance the store's security.
AG James, in a statement, criticized the lack of responsibility demonstrated by the gun shop owner, stating, "Irresponsible and inadequate security at gun shops is dangerous for all New Yorkers." She also stated that residents have the right to feel secure in their communities, a concern raised by the alleged repeated noncompliance with gun safety regulations at Bowman's business. Under New York state law, gun retailers are required to implement specific security measures, such as maintaining a formal security plan and properly storing firearms and ammunition—requirements that, according to the Attorney General's office, Bowman consistently failed to meet.
Earlier penalties and license suspensions appear to have had limited impact on Bowman’s business operations. In 2019, his license and permit were suspended after he admitted to knowingly accepting unlawfully possessed handguns and falsifying logbook records. However, subsequent violations were reported, including a second break-in during which multiple firearms were stolen. Although an alarm system was installed, it was reportedly ineffective due to the owner's admission that it was rarely activated. The lawsuit filed by Attorney General James seeks to enforce full compliance with New York's gun safety laws and also pursues disgorgement and financial penalties.
This case is part of a series of legal actions initiated by Attorney General Letitia James related to enforcement of gun safety regulations. Her office has previously filed actions against entities such as Walmart for shipping prohibited toy firearms and Indie Guns for allegedly selling ghost gun components in violation of state law. The Attorney General’s office has also supported federal efforts to regulate ghost guns and has organized gun buyback programs that have resulted in the collection of thousands of firearms across New York. The current case is being handled by multiple Assistant Attorneys General as part of ongoing regulatory enforcement.
