BOISE, ID — Raúl Labrador has joined a 23-state coalition supporting firearms manufacturers in ongoing lawsuits filed by the cities of Buffalo and Rochester, New York, according to a Thursday press release from the Idaho Attorney General’s Office.

The coalition, led by Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. The brief supports companies including Smith & Wesson, Glock, Ruger, and Taurus, which are being sued by the two cities.

According to the release, the lawsuits seek to hold the manufacturers financially responsible for crimes committed by individuals using firearms that were legally produced and sold.

The cases have been consolidated in federal court, where the manufacturers are seeking dismissal of the claims. The coalition argues the lawsuits are barred under the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), a 2005 law intended to shield firearms manufacturers and sellers from liability when their products are used unlawfully by third parties.

Buffalo and Rochester have filed their cases under a New York law requiring “reasonable controls” by gun manufacturers and distributors to prevent misuse of firearms. The cities argue the companies did not do enough to prevent the criminal use of their products after they were sold.

Supporters of the manufacturers argue the lawsuits attempt to bypass federal protections and could impose liability for actions taken by individuals outside the companies’ control. The Idaho-led coalition also maintains that Congress enacted PLCAA specifically to prevent litigation that could financially burden or shut down lawful firearms businesses.

The case could shape how courts interpret federal protections for gun manufacturers and the ability of states and cities to pursue similar claims.