Case Information
*1 137 Nev., Advance Opinion it
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEVADA JAMES PARSONS, INDIVIDUALLY No. 81034 AND AS SPECIAL ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF CAROLYN LEE PARSONS; AND ANN-MARIE PARSONS,
FILE Appellants, vs. [4] DEC 0 2 2021 " 4 COLT'S MANUFACTURING COMPANY LLC; COLT DEFENSE LLC; DANIEL nizAs
CLERK DEFENSE INC.; PATRIOT ORDNANCE BY FACTORY; FN AMERICA; NOVESKE IEF DEPLIIY RIFLEWORKS LLC; CHRISTENSEN ARMS; LEWIS MACHINE & TOOL COMPANY; LWRC INTERNATIONAL LLC; DISCOUNT FIREARMS AND AMMO LLC; DF&A HOLDINGS, LLC; MAVERICK INVESTMENTS, LP; SPORTSMAN'S WAREHOUSE; AND GUNS AND GUITARS INC., Respondents.
Certified questions under NRAP 5 concerning the scope of immunity NRS 41.131 affords firearm manufacturers and distributors and Nevada's negligence per se doctrine; United States District Court for the District of Nevada; Andrew P. Gordon, District Judge.
Questions answered in part. Friedman Rubin PLLC and Richard H. Friedman, Bremerton, Washington; Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder, PC, and Joshua D. Koskoff and Alinor C. Sterling, Bridgeport, Connecticut; Matthew L. Sharp, Ltd., and Matthew L. Sharp, Reno, for Appellants.
SUPREME COURT OF 3 413 / NEVADA ith 14)47A *2 H e j m a no w s k i & M c C r ea LL C a nd P a u l R . H e j m a no w s k i , L a s V e g a s ; W illi a m s M u ll e n , P C , a nd C a m d e n R . W e bb a nd R ob e r t V a n A r n a m , R a l e i gh , N o r t h C a r o li n a ; W illi a m s M u ll e n , P C , a nd T u r n e r A . B r ough t on a nd J u s ti n S . F e i n m a n , R i c h m ond , V i r g i n i a ; S p e n ce r F a n e LL P a nd J ohn H . M o w b r a y , M a r y E . l 3 ac on , a nd J e ss i ca E . C hong , L a s V e g a s , f o r R e s pond e n t F N A m e r i ca . S n e ll & W il m e r , L . L . P ., a nd K e ll y H . D ov e , P a t r i c k G . B y r n e , V . R . B oh m a n , a nd G il K a hn , L a s V e g a s , f o r R e s pond e n t s D a n i e l D e f e n s e I n c . a nd S po r t s m a n ' s W a r e hou s e . R e n z u lli L a w F i r m , LL P , a nd J ohn F . R e n z u lli , C h r i s t oph e r R e n z u lli , a nd S c o tt C . A ll a n , W h it e P l a i n s , N e w Y o r k ; E v a n s F ea r s & S c hu tt e r t LL P a nd J a y J . S c h u t t e r t a nd A l e x a n d r i a L . L a y t on , L a s V e g a s , f o r R e s pond e n t s C o l e s M a nu f ac t u r i ng C o m p a ny LL C ; C o lt D e f e n s e LL C ; P a t r i o t O r dn a n ce F ac t o r y ; C h r i s t e n s e n A r m s ; L e w i s M ac h i n e & T oo l C o m p a ny ; a nd L W RC I n t e r n a ti on a l LL C . P i s c i o tti M a l s c h a nd A n t hony P i s c i o tti , R y a n E r d r e i c h , a nd D a nny C . L a lli s , F l o r h a m P a r k , N e w J e r s e y ; L i n c o l n , G u s t a f s on & C e r c o s , LL P , a nd L o r e n S . Y oung , L a s V e g a s , f o r R e s pond e n t N ov e s k e R i f l e w o r k s LL C . T h e C h i a f u ll o G r oup , LL C , a nd C h r i s t oph e r M . C h i a f u ll o , N e w Y o r k , N e w Y o r k ; T h e A m i n L a w G r oup , L t d ., a nd I s m a il A m i n a nd J e ss i ca S . G u e rr a , L a s V e g a s , f o r R e s pond e n t s D i s c oun t F i r ea r m s a nd A mm o LL C ; D F & A H o l d i ng s , LL C ; a nd M a v e r i c k I nv e s t m e n t s , L P . H e j m a n o w s k i & M c C r e a L L C a n d P a u l R . H e j m a n o w s k i , L a s V e g a s , f o r R e s pond e n t D i s c oun t F i r ea r m s a nd A mm o LL C . S w a n s on , M a r ti n & B e ll LL P a nd J a m e s B . V og t s , C h i ca go , I lli no i s ; M u r c h i s on & C u mm i ng , LL P , a nd M i c h ae l J . N un ez , L a s V e g a s , f o r R e s pond e n t G un s a nd G u it a r s I n c . F e nn e m o r e C r a i g , P . C . , a nd T h e r e s e M . S h a nk s , R e no ; C l a gg e tt & S yk e s L a w F i r m a nd M i ca h E c ho l s , L a s V e g a s , f o r A m i c u s C u r i a e N e v a d a J u s ti ce A ss o c i a ti on .
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EV ADA 2 M I [1] , [47] A A g ti m *3 S hook , H a r dy & B ac on , L . L . P ., a nd V i c t o r E . S c h w a r t z , W a s h i ng t on D . C . ; S hook , H a r dy & B ac on L . L . P ., a nd J e nn i f e r N . H a t c h e r , K a n s a s C it y , M i ss ou r i , f o r A m i c u s C u r i ae N a ti on a l S hoo ti ng S po r t s F ound a ti on . B E F O R E T H E S U P R E M E C OU R T , E N B AN C .
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P I N I O N B y t h e C ou r t , P I C K E R I N G , J . : N R S 41 . 131 ( 1 ) p r ov i d e s t h a t I n lit ) p e r s on h a s a ca u s e o f ac ti on a g a i n s t t h e m a nu f ac t u r e r o r d i s t r i bu t o r o f a ny f i r ea r m o r a mm un iti on m e r e l y b eca u s e t h e f i r ea r m o r a mm un iti on w a s ca p a b l e o f ca u s i ng s e r i ou s i n j u r y , d a m a g e o r d ea t h . " C u rr e n tl y p e nd i ng i n N e v a d a ' s f e d e r a l d i s t r i c t c ou r t i s a s u it b r ough t by t h e p a r e n t s o f a v i c ti m o f t h e R ou t e 91 H a r v e s t F e s ti v a l m a ss ac r e a g a i n s t t h e m a nu f ac t u r e r s a nd d i s t r i bu t o r s o f t h e A R - 15 r i f l e s t h e gun m a n u s e d . T h e f e d e r a l c ou r t h a s d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e c o m p l a i n t p l a u s i b l y a ll e g e s t h a t t h e A R - 15 s v i o l a t e d s t a t e a nd f e d e r a l m ac h i n e gun p r oh i b i t i on s . I t no w a s k s t h i s c ou r t t o d ec i d e w h e t h e r t h e a ll e g a ti on o f ill e g a lit y a ll o w s t h e p a r e n t s w r ong f u l d ea t h a nd n e g li g e n ce p e r s e c l a i m s t o p r o ce e d , d e s p i t e t h e i m m u n it y N R S 41 . 1 31 ( 1 ) d ec l a r e s . W e ho l d t h a t it do e s no t a nd t h a t , a s w r itt e n , N R S 41 . 131 p r ov i d e s t h e gun m a nu f ac t u r e r s a nd d i s t r i bu t o r s i mm un it y fr o m t h e c l a i m s a ss e r t e d a g a i n s t t h e m und e r N e v a d a l a w i n t h i s ca s e .
I . A .
C a r r i e P a r s on s w a s k ill e d i n t h e O c t ob e r 1 , 2017 , m a ss s hoo ti ng t h a t o cc u rr e d a t t h e R o u t e 9 1 H a r v e s t F e s ti v a l o u t do o r c on ce r t i n L a s
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E V ADA 3 ( [0] ) [1947] A [41] [6] A k t. *4 V e g a s , N e v a d a . I n t h e 32nd -f l oo r ho t e l r oo m fr o m w h i c h h e f i r e d , t h e s hoo t e r h a d a m a ss e d a n a r s e n a l o f h i gh - ca p ac it y m a g az i n e s ; bu m p s t o c k s — a t oo l t h a t r e p l ace s t h e s t a nd a r d s t o c k o f a n A R - 15 r i f l e a nd u s e s t h e f i r ea r m ' s r ec o il m ec h a n i s m t o e n a b l e c on ti nu a l ( i . e ., a u t o m a ti c ) f i r e w it h a s i ng l e t r i gg e r pu ll — ; a nd 12 A R - 15 s e m i - a u t o m a ti c r i f l e s t h a t r e s pond e n t s ( c o ll ec ti v e l y , t h e gun c o m p a n i e s ) m a nu f ac t u r e d a nd / o r s o l d . T h e s hoo t e r r e p l ace d t h e s t a nd a r d s t o c k s o f h i s A R - 15 r i f l e s w it h t ho s e bu m p s t o c k s a nd f i r e d 1 , 049 r ound s , i n j u s t 10 m i nu t e s , i n t o t h e c r o w d o f c oun t r y m u s i c f a n s g a t h e r e d b e l o w . T h e s h oo t e r k ill e d 5 8 p e op l e t h a t n i g h t , i n c l u d i ng C a rr i e , a nd i n j u r e d hund r e d s m o r e , t h e n c o mm itt e d s u i c i d e .
J a m e s a n d A n n - M a r i e P a r s o n s s u e d t h e g un c o m p a n i e s i n N e v a d a s t a t e c ou r t , a ll e g i ng ( 1 ) w r ong f u l d ea t h ca u s e d by t h e c o m p a n i e s ' kno w i ng v i o l a ti on o f 18 U . S . C . § 922 ( b )( 4 ) ( 2019 ) ( p r oh i b iti ng t h e s a l e o r d e li v e r y o f m ac h i n e gun s " e x ce p t a s s p ec i f i ca ll y a u t ho r i ze d by t h e A tt o r n e y G e n e r a l c on s i s t e n t w it h pub li c s a f e t y a nd n ece ss it y " ) a nd N R S 202 . 350 ( 1 )( 3 ) ( s i m il a r) ; ( 2 ) n e g li g e n ce p e r s e und e r t h e s a m e s t a t u t e s ; a nd ( 3 ) n e g li g e n t e n t r u s t m e n t . T h e gun c o m p a n i e s ti m e l y r e m ov e d t h e ca s e t o f e d e r a l c ou r t , w h e r e t h e y f il e d a m o ti on t o d i s m i ss und e r R u l e 12 ( b )( 6 ) o f t h e F e d e r a l R u l e s o f C i v il P r o ce du r e ( F RC P ) . T h e m o ti on a r gu e d t h a t t h e c o m p l a i n t f a il e d t o s t a t e c l a i m s upon w h i c h r e li e f c ou l d b e g r a n t e d a nd t h a t t h e f e d e r a l P r o t ec ti on o f L a w f u l C o mm e r ce i n A r m s A c t ( P L C AA ) , 15 U . S . C . §§ 7901 - 03 ( 2019 ) , a nd N R S 41 . 131 b a r t h e P a r s on s e s c l a i m s a s a m a tt e r o f l a w .
T h e f e d e r a l d i s t r i c t c ou r t g r a n t e d t h e m o ti on t o d i s m i ss t h e n e g li g e n t e n t r u s t m e n t a nd n e g li g e n ce p e r s e c l a i m s , bu t d e n i e d it a s t o t h e w r o ng f u l d ea t h c l a i m b a s e d o n t h e s o - ca l l e d " p r e d i ca t e e x ce p t i o n " t o t h e P L C AA . E n ac t e d i n 20 0 5 , t h e P L C A N s d ec l a r e d p u r po s e i s t o " p r o h i b i t
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EV ADA 4 [1] [0] [1] [1947] A 00 * , s T r a [7] " *5 ca u s e s o f ac ti on a g a i n s t m a nu f ac t u r e r s [ a nd ] d i s t r i bu t o r s . . . o f f i r ea r m s . .. f o r t h e h a r m s o l e l y ca u s e d by t h e [ i r] c r i m i n a l o r un l a w f u l m i s u s e by o t h e r s w h e n t h e p r odu c t f un c ti on e d a s d e s i gn e d a nd i n t e nd e d . " 15 U . S . C . § 7901 ( b )( 1 ) ( 2019 ) ; s ee a l s o i d . §§ 7902 ( a )-( b ) , 7903 ( 5 )( A ) . B u t t h e P L C AA ' s p r e d i ca t e e x ce p ti on p e r m it s " ac ti on [ s ] i n w h i c h a m a nu f ac t u r e r o r s e ll e r . . . k no w i ng l y v i o l a t e d a S t a t e o r F e d e r a l s t a t u t e a p p li ca b l e t o t h e s a l e o r m a r k e ti ng o f t h e p r odu c t , a nd t h e v i o l a ti on w a s a p r ox i m a t e ca u s e o f t h e h a r m f o r w h i c h r e li e f i s s ough t . " 15 U . S . C . § 7903 ( 5 )( A )( iii ) . I nvok i ng t h e P L C AA ' s p r e d i ca t e e x ce p ti on , t h e P a r s on s e s a r gu e d t o t h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t t h a t t h e ea s e w it h w h i c h a n A R - 15 ca n b e m od i f i e d t o e n a b l e f u ll a u t o m a ti c f i r e b r i ng s t h e r i f l e w it h i n t h e f e d e r a l a nd s t a t e d e f i n iti on s o f " m ac h i n e gun , " s ee 26 U . S . C . § 5845 ( b ) ( 2019 ) ( d e f i n i ng a m ac h i n e gun a s " a ny w ea pon w h i c h s hoo t s , i s d e s i gn e d t o s hoo t , o r ca n b e r ea d il y r e s t o r e d t o s hoo t , a u t o m a ti ca ll y m o r e t h a n on e s ho t , w it hou t m a nu a l r e l o a d i ng , by a s i ng l e f un c ti on o f t h e t r i gg ee ) ; N R S 202 . 350 ( 8 )( c ) ( 2015 ) ( " M ac h i n e gun m ea n s a ny w ea pon w h i c h s hoo t s , i s d e s i gn e d t o s hoo t o r ca n b e r ea d il y r e s t o r e d t o s hoo t m o r e t h a n on e s ho t , w it hou t m a nu a l r e l o a d i ng , by a s i ng l e f un c ti on o f t h e t r i gg e r . " ) (r ec od i f i e d a s N R S 202 . 253 ( 6 ) ( 2021 )) , a nd t h e a ss o c i a t e d r e s t r i c ti on s on t h e i r m a nu f ac t u r e a nd s a l e . S ee 18 U . S . C . § 922 ( b )( 4 ) ; N R S 202 . 350 ( 1 )( b ) .
A f t e r r e v i e w i ng t h e P a r s on s e s ' c o m p l a i n t , t h e f e d e r a l d i s t r i c t c ou r t p r ov i s i o n a ll y c r e d it e d t h e i r a r gu m e n t . I t c on c l ud e d t h a t t h e c o m p l a i n t p l a u s i b l y a ll e g e d t h a t t h e gun c o m p a n i e s " kno w i ng l y m a nu f ac t u r e d a nd s o l d w ea pon s ' d e s i gn e d t o s hoo t ' a u t o m a ti ca ll y b eca u s e t h e y w e r e a w a r e t h e i r A R - 15 s c ou l d b e ea s il y m od i f i e d w it h bu m p s t o c k s t o do s o [ J " t h e r e by v i o l a t i ng f e d e r a l a nd s t a t e m a c h i n e gun p r oh i b i t i on s . P a rs o n s v . C o l e s M f g . C o ., LL C , N o . 2 : 19 - c v - 01189 - A P G - E J Y , 2020 W L
5 *6 1821306 , a t *5 - 6 ( D . N e v . A p r il 10 , 2020 ) ( ho l d i ng t h a t , " (f l o r pu r po s e s o f a m o ti on t o d i s m i ss , t h i s a ll e g a ti on [ o f ea s y m od i f i a b ilit y t o e n a b l e a u t o m a ti c f i r e ] s uppo r t s a p l a u s i b l e c l a i m f o r r e li e f) ( c iti ng 18 U . S . C . § 922 ( b )( 4 ) a nd N R S 202 . 350 ( 1 )( b )) ; P a rs on s v . C o lt ' s M f g . C o ., LL C , N o . 2 : 19 - c v - 01189 - A P G - E J Y , 2020 W L 4059685 , a t *4 ( D . N e v . J u l y 20 , 2020 ) ( d e ny i ng r ec on s i d e r a ti on ) ; s ee a l s o B e ll A tl . C o r p . v . T w o m b l y , 550 U . S . 544 , 556 ( 2007 ) ( ho l d i ng t h a t p l a i n ti ff m u s t m a k e s u ff i c i e n t f ac t u a l a ll e g a ti on s t o a ll e g e a p l a u s i b l e c l a i m f o r r e li e f t o s u r v i v e a m o ti on t o d i s m i ss und e r F RC P 12 ( b )( 6 )) . O n t h i s b a s i s , t h e d i s t r i c t c ou r t h e l d t h a t " [ t ] h e P a r s on s h a v e a ll e g e d a w r ong f u l d ea t h c l a i m t h a t i s no t p r ec l ud e d by t h e P L C AA . " P a rs o n s , s u p r a , 2020 W L 41821306 , a t *6 ; s ee g e n e r a ll y A ny a S a nko & D y l a n L a w t e r , G un s i n t h e S ky : N ev ada ' s F i r e a r m L a w s , 1 O c t ob e r , and N ex t S t e p s , 5 N e v . L . J . F . 34 , 46 - 59 ( 2021 ) .
T h i s l e f t t h e qu e s ti on w h e t h e r t h e i mm un it y N R S 41 . 131 d ec l a r e s i s b r o a d e r t h a n t h a t p r ov i d e d by t h e P L C AA i n t h i s ca s e . T h e f e d e r a l d i s t r i c t c ou r t d ec li n e d t o d ec i d e t h i s qu e s ti on o f s t a t e l a w i n t h e f i r s t i n s t a n ce , i n s t ea d ce r ti f y i ng t w o qu e s ti on s a bou t N R S 41 . 131 s s c op e t o t h i s c ou r t und e r N R A P 5 . T h e f e d e r a l c ou r t l a t e r r ec on s i d e r e d it s d i s m i ss a l o f t h e n e g li g e n ce p e r s e c l a i m a nd ce r ti f i e d a n a dd iti on a l qu e s ti on t o u s a bou t N e v a d a ' s n e g li g e n ce p e r s e do c t r i n e . I t r e s e r v e d f i n a l r u li ng on t h e m o ti on t o d i s m i ss t h e w r ong f u l d ea t h a nd n e g li g e n ce p e r s e c l a i m s p e nd i ng ou r d ec i s i on on t h e ce r ti f i e d qu e s ti on s .
B . T h e ce r ti f i e d qu e s ti on s t h e f e d e r a l d i s t r i c t c ou r t h a s f o r w a r d e d a r e t hu s t h r ee : 1 . D o e s a p l a i n ti f f a ss e r ti n g a w r o n g f u l d ea t h c l a i m p r e m i s e d on a ll e g a ti on s t h a t f i r ea r m s m a nu f ac t u r e r s a nd d ea l e r s kno w i ng l y v i o l a t e d f e d e r a l a nd s t a t e m ac h i n e gun p r oh i b iti on s h a v e
6 *7 " a ca u s e o f ac ti on a g a i n s t t h e m a nu f ac t u r e r o r d i s t r i bu t o r o f a ny f i r ea r m . . . m e r e l y b eca u s e t h e f i r ea r m o r a mm un iti on w a s ca p a b l e o f ca u s i ng s e r i ou s i n j u r y , d a m a g e o r d ea t h , w a s d i s c h a r g e d a nd p r ox i m a t e l y ca u s e d s e r i ou s i n j u r y , d a m a g e o r d ea t h [ J " und e r [ N R S 41 . 131 ] ?
2 . D o e s [ N R S 41 . 131 ] a ll o w a w r ong f u l d ea t h c l a i m p r e m i s e d on a ll e g a ti on s t h a t f i r ea r m s m a nu f ac t u r e r s a nd d ea l e r s kno w i ng l y v i o l a t e d f e d e r a l a nd s t a t e m ac h i n e gun p r oh i b iti on s b eca u s e t h e s t a t u t e i s " d ec l a r a t o r y a nd no t i n d e r og a ti on o f t h e c o mm on l a w " ?
3 . [ C ] a n a p l a i n ti f f a s s e r t a n e g li g e n c e p e r s e c l a i m p r e d i ca t e d on v i o l a ti on s o f c r i m i n a l f e d e r a l a nd s t a t e m ac h i n e gun p r oh i b iti on s a b s e n t e v i d e n ce o f l e g i s l a ti v e i n t e n t t o i m po s e c i v il li a b ilit y ?
R u l e 5 o f t h e N e v a d a R u l e s o f A pp e ll a t e P r o ce du r e " g i v e s t h i s c ou r t d i s c r e ti on a r y a u t ho r it y t o acce p t a nd a n s w e r ce r ti f i e d qu e s ti on s o f N e v a d a l a w t h a t ' m a y b e d e t e r m i n a ti v e o f t h e ca u s e t h e n p e nd i ng i n t h e ce r ti f y i ng c ou r t . ' " P r og r e ss i ve G u lf I n s . C o . v . F a e hn r i c h , 130 N e v . 167 , 170 , 327 P . 3d 1061 , 1063 ( 2014 ) ( quo ti ng N R A P 5 ) . I n a n s w e r i ng ce r ti f i e d qu e s ti on s , t h i s c ou r t acce p t s t h e f ac t s s t a t e d by t h e f o r w a r d i ng c ou r t i n it s ce r ti f i ca ti on o r d e r . S FR I n v s . P oo l 1 , LL C v . B an k o f N . Y . M e ll on , 134 N e v . 483 , 489 n . 5 , 422 P . 3d 1248 , 1253 n . 5 ( 2018 ) . W e a l s o , n ece ss a r il y , acce p t t h e ce r ti f y i ng c ou r t ' s d e t e r m i n a ti on s w it h r e s p ec t t o it s o w n s ub s t a n ti v e a nd p r o ce du r a l l a w . S ee E r i c C . S u r e tt e , A nno t a ti on , C on s t r u c ti on and A pp li c a ti on o f U n if o r m C e r tifi c a ti on o f Q u e s ti on s o f L a w A c t , 69 A . L . R . 6 t h 415 , 468 ( 2011 ) ( " [I] n a n s w e r i ng qu e s ti on s po s e d by a f e d e r a l c ou r t . . . , t h e p a r a m e t e r s o f s t a t e l a w c l a i m s o r d e f e n s e s i d e n ti f i e d by t h e s ub m itt e d qu e s ti on s m a y b e t e s t e d , bu t it i s no t t h e a n s w e r i ng c ou r t ' s o ff i ce t o i n t r ud e ( by it s r e s pon s e s ) upon t h e ce r ti f y i ng c ou r t ' s d ec i s i on - m a k i ng p r o ce ss . " ) .
7 *8 The federal district court's questions all incorporate its determination that the complaint plausibly alleges that the gun companies' manufacture and sale of the AR-15s "violated federal and state machine gun prohibitions." As the answering court, "our role Is limited to answering the questions of [state] law posed to [us]?" Progressive Gulf Ins. Co., 130 Nev. at 170, 327 P.3d at 1063 (second alteration in original) (quoting In re Fontainebleau Las Vegas Holdings, LLC, 127 Nev. 941, 955, 267 P.3d 786, 794-95 (2011)). For purposes of this case, we therefore accept, without independently deciding, the federal court's determination that an AR-15 rifle may fit the federal and state definitions of machinegun.1 Although the federal district court has deferred fmal resolution of the machinegun issue to further factual and legal development, this does not make our answers to its certified questions impermissibly advisory. See Echeverria v. State, 137 Nev., Adv. Op. 49, 495 P.3d 471, 475 (2021) (noting in the context of NRAP 5 that "Mills court lacks the constitutional power to render advisory opinion?). Depending on the answers we give, Nevada law may resolve the case at the pleading stage, without need of further proceedings. Thus, the questions are sufficiently outcome-determinative to satisfy NRAP 5, and we exercise our discretion in favor of accepting and answering them.
1 We note but express no opinion on the 2019 amendment to NRS 202.253(6)(c) (recodified as NRS 202.253(8)(c) (2021)), which partially defines a "semiautomatic firearm" as "not a machine gun." Cf. Staples v. United States, 511 U.S. 600, 602-06 (1994) (discussing semiautomatic nature of AR-15 rifles when determining mens rea requirements under 26 U.S.C. § 5861(d), without deciding whether an AR-15 rifle is a "machinegun"). The federal and Nevada statutes differ in how they spell "machinegun." This opinion uses "machinegun" except where the quoted source writes "machine gun" out as two words.
SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA 8 (0) 1947A WOO. *9 T h e f e d e r a l d i s t r i c t c ou r t ' s qu e s ti on s a s k u s t o i n t e r p r e t N R S 41 . 131 . T h e " w ho l e - t e x t " ca non r e qu i r e s t h a t , i n c on s t r u i ng a s t a t u t e , " M ll e t e x t m u s t b e c on s t r u e d a s a w ho l e . " A n t on i n S ca li a & B r y a n A . G a r n e r , R e ad i ng L a w : T h e I n t e r p r e t a ti on o f L e ga l T ex t s 167 ( 2012 ) ; O r i on P o r tf o li o S e r v s . 2 LL C v . C t y . o f C l a r k ex r e l . U n i v . M e d . C t r . o f S . N ev ., 126 N e v . 397 , 403 , 245 P . 3d 527 , 531 ( 2010 ) ( " T h i s c ou r t h a s a du t y t o c on s t r u e s t a t u t e s a s a w ho l e , s o t h a t a ll p r ov i s i on s a r e c on s i d e r e d t og e t h e r a nd , t o t h e e x t e n t p r ac ti ca b l e , r ec on c il e d a nd h a r m on i ze d . " ) . O u r a n a l y s i s t h e r e f o r e b e g i n s w it h t h e f u ll t e x t o f N R S 41 . 131 , w h i c h p r ov i d e s :
1 . N o p e r s on h a s a ca u s e o f ac ti on a g a i n s t t h e m a nu f ac t u r e r o r d i s t r i bu t o r o f a ny f i r ea r m o r a mm un iti on m e r e l y b eca u s e t h e f i r ea r m o r a mm un iti on w a s ca p a b l e o f ca u s i ng s e r i ou s i n j u r y , d a m a g e o r d ea t h , w a s d i s c h a r g e d a nd p r ox i m a t e l y ca u s e d s e r i ou s i n j u r y , d a m a g e o r d ea t h . T h i s s u b s ec ti on i s d ec l a r a t o r y a n d n o t i n d e r o g a ti o n o f t h e c o mm on l a w .
2 . T h i s s e c ti on do e s no t a ff e c t a c a u s e o f ac ti on b a s e d upon a d e f ec t i n d e s i gn o r p r odu c ti on . T h e ca p a b ilit y o f a f i r ea r m o r a mm un iti on t o ca u s e s e r i ou s i n j u r y , d a m a g e o r d ea t h w h e n d i s c h a r g e d do e s no t m a k e t h e p r odu c t d e f ec ti v e i n d e s i gn .
S ee N R S 0 . 039 ( d e f i n i ng " p e r s on " t o m e a n " a n a t u r a l p e r s on , a ny f o r m o f bu s i n e ss o r s o c i a l o r g a n i za ti on a nd a ny o t h e r nongov e r n m e n t a l l e g a l e n tit y " ) . N R S 41 . 131 w a s e n ac t e d i n 1985 , t w e n t y y ea r s b e f o r e t h e P L C AA . 1985 N e v . S t a t ., c h . 480 , § 1 , a t 1469 - 70 . B u t s i m il a r t o t h e P L C AA , s ee 15 U . S . C . § 7901 ( b )( 1 ) , it s pu r po s e w a s t o e s t a b li s h t h a t " i f s o m e on e s hoo t s a f i r ea r m a nd hu r t s s o m e body , you ca n ' t s u e t h e f i r ea r m s m a nu f ac t u r e r b eca u s e it s hoo t s . " H ea r i ng on S . B . 211 B e f o r e t h e A ss e m b . J ud i c i a r y C o mm . , 63d L e g . ( N e v ., A p r . 17 , 1985 ) ( s t a t e m e n t o f A ss e m b . R ob e r t S a d e r ,
9 *10 M e m b e r , A ss e m b . J ud i c i a r y C o mm . ) ; s ee a l s o H ea r i ng on S . B . 211 B e f o r e t h e S . J ud i c i a r y C o mm ., 63d L e g . ( N e v . M a r . 13 , 1985 ) ( s t a t e m e n t o f S e n . R ob e r t E . R ob i n s on , C h a i r m a n , S . C o mm e r ce & L a bo r C o mm . ) ( " E A ] gun i n it s e l f i s no t t o b e d e t e r m i n e d a s a t f a u lt i n ca s e o f a d ea t h o r i n j u r y . . . . [ R a t h e r] t h e li a b ilit y w ou l d b e on t h e h a nd l e r o f t h e gun . " ) .
E ac h s i d e f i nd s i n N R S 41 . 131 l a ngu a g e t h e y s a y un a m b i guou s l y f a vo r s t h e m . T h e P a r s on s e s a r gu e t h a t t h e ph r a s e " m e r e l y b eca u s e " i n s t r u c t s t h a t N R S 41 . 131 i s a " no -f a u lt " s t a t u t e t h a t s h i e l d s f i r ea r m m a nu f ac t u r e r s a nd d i s t r i bu t o r s fr o m fr i vo l ou s l a w s u it s a ll e g i ng f a u lt b a s e d on on l y t h e i nh e r e n t d a ng e r s o f f i r ea r m s , no t on e s a ll e g i ng t h a t f i r ea r m m a nu f ac t u r e r s a nd d i s t r i bu t o r s ac t e d un l a w f u ll y i n m a nu f ac t u r i ng o r d i s t r i bu ti ng r e s t r i c t e d f i r ea r m s . T h e gun c o m p a n i e s c oun t e r t h a t N R S 41 . 131 b r o a d l y i mm un i ze s t h e m fr o m a ll c i v il ac ti on s , w it h a s i ng l e e x ce p ti on f o r p r odu c t s li a b ilit y ac ti on s i nvo l v i ng d e s i gn o r p r odu c ti on d e f ec t s t h a t ca u s e t h e f i r ea r m t o m a l f un c ti on — f o r e x a m p l e , a gun t h a t do e s no t s hoo t bu t e xp l od e s w h e n t h e t r i gg e r i s pu ll e d . B u t t h e p a r ti e s ' c o m p e ti n g i n t e r p r e t a ti o n s ( a n d t o s o m e e x t e n t t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t ' s p h r a s i n g o f it s qu e s ti on s a bou t N R S 41 . 131 ) pu s h t h e s t a t u t e ' s ou t e r bound s a nd a s k t h a t w e op i n e m o r e b r o a d l y t h a n i s n ece ss a r y . T h e a n s w e r t o t h e li m it e d d i s po s iti v e qu e s ti on — do e s t h e p l a u s i b l e a ll e g a ti on o f ill e g a lit y t a k e t h e ca u s e s o f ac ti on a ss e r t e d h e r e ou t s i d e t h e i mm un it y N R S 41 . 131 ( 1 ) d ec l a r e s ? — li e s s o m e w h e r e i n b e t w ee n . S ee P r og r e ss i ve G u lf I n s . C o ., 130 N e v . a t 171 , 327 P . 3d a t 1063 ( no ti ng t h a t t h i s c ou r t m a y r e ph r a s e a ce r ti f i e d qu e s ti on i n it s d i s c r e ti on ) .
A . L o ok i n g f i r s t t o i t s p l a i n l a ng u a g e , H a r r i s A ss o c s . v . C l a r k C t y . S c h . D i s t . , 119 N e v . 638 , 641 - 42 , 81 P . 3d 532 , 534 ( 2003 ) ( no ti ng t h a t t h i s c o u r t s t a r t s w i t h t h e p l a i n l a ng u a g e o f a s t a t u t e ) , N R S 4 1 . 13 1 ca n b e
10 *11 r ea s on a b l y r ea d t o a ll o w t h e c l a i m s a t i ss u e h e r e b eca u s e it u s e s t h e ph r a s e " m e r e l y b eca u s e , " a nd t h e P a r s on s e s ac ti on i s a r gu a b l y p r e m i s e d on f a u lt b e yond a f i r ea r m ' s i nh e r e n t a b ilit y t o ca u s e h a r m ; t h a t i s , t h e gun c o m p a n i e s ' m a nu f ac t u r e a nd d i s t r i bu ti on o f ill e g a l m ac h i n e gun s . B u t N R S 41 . 131 do e s no t li m it t h e gun c o m p a n i e s ' i mm un it y t o t h e m a nu f ac t u r e a nd d i s t r i bu ti on o f l e ga l f i r ea r m s . I n s t ea d , t h e L e g i s l a t u r e p r ov i d e d t h a t I nk , p e r s on h a s a ca u s e o f ac ti on a g a i n s t t h e m a nu f ac t u r e r o r d i s t r i bu t o r o f a ny fi r e a r m o r a mm un iti on " ( e m ph a s i s a dd e d ) , a nd " a ny " c onv e n ti on a ll y m ea n s " a ll " o r " e v e r y . " E . g ., L e g i s l a t u r e v . S e tt e l m eye r , 137 N e v ., A dv . O p . 21 , 486 P . 3d 1276 , 1281 ( 2021 ) ( ho l d i ng t h a t t h e t e r m " a ny '' m ea n s " a ny a nd a ll , " " on e ou t o f m a ny , " a r i d " i nd i s c r i m i n a t e l y o f w h a t e v e r k i nd " ) ( quo ti ng A n y , , B l a ck ' s L a w D i c ti ona r y ( 6 t h e d . 1990 )) ; D i m ond v . L i nn ecke , 87 N e v . 464 , 467 , 489 P . 2d 93 , 95 ( 1971 ) ( c on s t r u i ng " a ny t o m ea n " a l F o r " e v e r Y ) . B eca u s e t h e ph r a s e " a ny f i r ea r m " acc o r d i ng l y m ea n s " a ll f i r ea r m s , " w h e t h e r l e g a l o r ill e g a l — a po i n t t h a t t h e P a r s on s e s ' c oun s e l c on ce d e d a t o r a l a r gu m e n t — N R S 41 . 131 do e s no t r e qu i r e t h a t t h e f i r ea r m m a nu f ac t u r e d o r s o l d b e l e g a l f o r a gun c o m p a ny t o s ee k s h e lt e r fr o m c i v il li a b ilit y und e r it . S ee , e . g ., S e tt e l m eye r , 137 N e v ., A dv . O p . 21 , 486 P . 3d a t 1281 (r ea s on i ng t h a t t h e t e r m " a n Y h a s b r o a d a pp li ca t i on ) ; U n it e d S t a t e s v . C o l e , 525 F . 3d 656 , 659 - 60 ( 8 t h C i r . 2008 ) ( i n t e r p r e ti ng t h e ph r a s e " a ny f i r ea r m " b r o a d l y ) .
T h i s c ou r t w ou l d h a v e t o i n s e r t t h e w o r d " l e g a l " o r " l a w f u l " b e t w e e n " a n Y a nd " f i r e a r m " f o r t h e P a r s on s e s ' a ll e g a ti on o f f a u lt t o e s c a p e N R S 41 . 131 s r eac h , a nd t h i s c ou r t do e s no t r ea d i n i m p li e d t e r m s t h a t t h e L e g i s l a t u r e o m itt e d . S ee E c h eve rr i a v . S t a t e , 137 N e v ., A dv . O p . 49 , 495 P . 3d 471 , 476 ( 2021 ) ( " T h i s c ou r t h a s r e p ea t e d l y r e f u s e d t o i m p l y p r ov i s i on s n o t e x p r e s s l y i n c l u d e d i n t h e l e g i s l a ti v e s c h e m e . " ) ( i n t e r n a l q u o t a t i o n o m itt e d ) . I nd ee d , un li k e N R S 41 . 131 , s o m e s t a t e s ' a n a l ogou s s t a t u t e s
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F N EV ADA 11 ( [0] ) I [947] A *12 condition the immunity they provide on the manufacture or sale of a firearm being legal, similar to the PLCAA and its predicate exception, 15 U.S.C. §§ 7902(a), 7903(5)(A)(iii). E.g., Alaska Stat. § 09.65.155 (2020) ("A civil action to recover damages . . . may not be brought against a person who manufactures or sells firearms or ammunition if the action is based on the lawful sale, manufacture, or design of firearms or ammunition.") (emphasis added); Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 12-714 (2016) ("Businesses . . . that are engaged in the lawful sale to the public of firearms or ammunition are not, and should not be liable for the harm caused by those who unlawfully misuse firearms or ammunition.") (emphasis added); S.D. Codified Laws § 21-58-2 (2004) ("No firearm manufacturer, distributor, or seller who lawfully manufactures, distributes, or sells a firearm is liable to any person or entity, or to the estate, successors, or survivors of either, for any injury suffered, including wrongful death and property damage, because of the use of such firearm by another.") (emphasis added); see also N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 508:21 (2010) (providing immunity to firearm manufacturers and distributors for the criminal acts of a third party but stating that this immunity does not apply to "an action brought against a manufacturer [or distributor] convicted of a felony under state or federal law, by a party directly harmed by the felonious conduct"); Charles J. Nagy, Jr., American Law of Products Liability § 106:4 (3d ed. 2016) (compiling state immunity statutes applicable to manufacturers and distributors of firearms).
More like NRS 41.131 is Indiana code section 34-12-3-3(2) (2021), which provides that "a person may not bring or maintain an action against a firearms or ammunition manufacturer. . . . or seller for . . . recovery of damages resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of a firearm or ammunition for a firearm by a third party." And in KS&E
12 *13 Spo r t s v . R unn e l s , t h e I nd i a n a S up r e m e C ou r t h e l d t h a t t h i s a n a l ogou s s t a t u t e li m it e d gun c o m p a n i e s li a b ilit y f o r h a r m s ca u s e d by t h i r d p a r ti e s , e v e n i f t h e gun c o m p a ny ac t e d un l a w f u ll y , b eca u s e t h e I nd i a n a L e g i s l a t u r e pu r po s e f u ll y o m itt e d t h e t e r m " l a w f u l " fr o m t h e s t a t u t e ' s s ec ond s ub s ec ti on . 72 N . E . 3d 892 , 899 (I nd . 2017 ) ; c f I nd . C od e A nn . § 34 - 12 - 3 - 3 ( 1 ) ( p r ov i d i ng i mm un it y fr o m s u it s r e l a t e d t o t h e " l a w f u l " d e s i gn , m a nu f ac t u r e , m a r k e ti ng , o r s a l e o f a f i r ea r m o r a mm un iti on ) . L i k e s ub s ec ti on 2 o f I nd i a n a ' s s t a t u t e , N R S 41 . 131 do e s no t e xp r e ss l y " d e n [ y ] i mm un it y t o f i r e a r m s s e ll e r s t h a t v i o l a t e t h e l a w . " R unn e l s , 72 N . E . 3d a t 899 . A nd b eca u s e t h e N e v a d a L e g i s l a t u r e d i d no t r e s e r v e t h e p r o t ec ti on s o f N R S 41 . 131 t o t h e m a nu f ac t u r e a nd s a l e o f l e ga l w ea pon s , t h e a ll e g e d ill e g a lit y o f A R - 15 r i f l e s a pp ea r s t o b e i mm a t e r i a l .
T h i s i n t e r p r e t a ti on do e s no t r e nd e r t h e ph r a s e " m e r e l y b eca u s e m ea n i ng l e ss , a s t h e P a r s on s e s m a i n t a i n . F i r s t , N R S 41 . 131 ( 2 ) e xp r e ss l y li m it s t h e i mm un it y N R S 41 . 131 ( 1 ) d ec l a r e s , p r ov i d i ng t h a t , " [ t ] h i s s ec ti on do e s no t a ff ec t a ca u s e o f ac ti on b a s e d upon a d e f ec t i n d e s i gn o r p r odu c ti on " — e . g ., t h e m i s m a nu f ac t u r e d f i r ea r m t h a t e xp l od e s a nd i n j u r e s by s t a nd e r s w h e n t h e t r i gg e r i s pu ll e d — a ll o w i ng ac ti on s a ss e r ti ng s u c h f a u lt t o p r o cee d . S ec ond , N R S 41 . 131 ( 1 ) do e s no t ca t e go r i ca ll y i mm un i ze f i r ea r m m a nu f ac t u r e r s a nd d i s t r i bu t o r s fr o m li a b ilit y f o r i nd e p e nd e n t ac t s o f n e g li g e n ce ; t h a t i s , ac t s t h a t c r ea t e a n un r ea s on a b l e r i s k o f h a r m a bov e a nd b e yond t h a t po s e d by t h e f i r ea r m ' s i nh e r e n t d a ng e r ou s n e ss . A s a n e x a m p l e , c on s i d e r t h e s po r ti ng good s s t o r e ( a gun d i s t r i bu t o r) w ho s e c l e r k l ea v e s a l o a d e d f i r ea r m ou t on t h e c oun t e r t h a t a p a t r on p i c k s up a nd pu ll s t h e t r i gg e r on , t h i nk i ng t h e c h a m b e r w a s e m p t y , i n j u r i n g t h e p e r s on n e x t t o h e r . I n t h a t ca s e , t h e c a u s e o f ac ti o n d o e s n o t a r i s e " m e r e l y b ec a u s e t h e gu n " w a s c a p a b l e o f ca u s i n g s e r i o u s i n j u r y ,
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EV ADA 13 [101] [1947] A a d li t i t o r : -- [7] *14 d a m a g e o r d ea t h , w a s d i s c h a r g e d a nd p r ox i m a t e l y ca u s e d s e r i ou s i n j u r y , d a m a g e o r d ea t h . " N R S 41 . 131 ( 1 ) . T h e c l e r k ' s n e g li g e n ce i n l ea v i ng t h e l o a d e d f i r ea r m ou t on t h e d i s p l a y ca s e g i v e s r i s e t o t h e ca u s e o f ac ti on f o r d i r ec t o r v i ca r i ou s li a b ilit y , no t t h e f i r ea r m ' s i nh e r e n t ca p ac it y t o s hoo t a nd , w h e n s ho t , t o i n j u r e o r k ill .
B . N R S 41 . 131 s h i s t o r y c on t e x t u a ll y s uppo r t s t h i s r ea d i ng . T h e N e v a d a L e g i s l a t u r e e n ac t e d N R S 41 . 131 i n 1985 . 1985 N e v . S t a t ., c h . 480 , § 1 , a t 1469 - 70 . A t t h a t ti m e , m ac h i n e gun s w e r e l e g a l t o m a nu f ac t u r e , s e ll , t r a n s f e r , a nd po ss e ss und e r N e v a d a l a w . I t w a s no t un til 1989 t h a t N e v a d a d e f i n e d " m ac h i n e gun " a nd p r oh i b it e d it s po ss e ss i on a nd u s e , s ee 1989 N e v . S t a t ., c h . 309 , § 1 , a t 653 - 54 , a nd no t un til 2003 t h a t N e v a d a p r oh i b it e d t h e m a nu f ac t u r e a nd s a l e o f m ac h i n e gun s . 2003 N e v . S t a t ., c h . 256 , § 6 , a t 1351 . A nd a lt hough C ong r e ss p r oh i b it e d f i r ea r m s m a nu f ac t u r e r s a nd d ea l e r s fr o m s e lli ng o r d e li v e r i ng m ac h i n e gun s t o p e r s on s o t h e r t h a n t ho s e a u t ho r i ze d by t h e S ec r e t a r y o f S t a t e i n 1968 , G un C on t r o l A c t o f 1968 , P ub . L . N o . 90 - 618 , §§ 922 , 5845 , 82 S t a t . 1216 - 17 , 1230 - 31 ( 1968 ) , it w a s no t un til 1986 t h a t C ong r e ss p r oh i b it e d t h e t r a n s f e r o r po ss e ss i on o f a ll m ac h i n e gun s o t h e r t h a n f o r o ff i c i a l gov e r n m e n t a l u s e . F i r ea r m Ow n e r s ' P r o t ec ti on A c t o f 1986 , P ub . L . N o . 99 - 308 , § 102 , 100 S t a t . 451 , 452 - 53 ( 1986 ) ( p r ov i d i ng t h a t " it s h a ll b e un l a w f u l f o r a ny p e r s on t o t r a n s f e r o r po ss e ss a m ac h i n e gun " ) .
T h e s e po s t - 1985 c r i m i n a l p r oh i b iti on s d e m on s t r a t e t h a t C ong r e ss a nd t h e N e v a d a L e g i s l a t u r e r ec ogn i ze d t h e g r a v e d a ng e r t h a t m ac h i n e gun s po s e i n c i v ili a n h a nd s . Y e t , d e s p it e t h e d ec i s i on t o i m po s e c r i m i n a l p e n a l ti e s f o r t h e m a n u f ac t u r e a n d s a l e o f m a c h i n e g u n s u n l e ss f e d e r a ll y a u t ho r i ze d , t h e N e v a d a L e g i s l a t u r e d i d no t e li m i n a t e o r a m e nd
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E VA DA 14 M I [1947] A A B I O D *15 NRS 41.131 to permit civil actions seeking damages for conduct alleged to violate those prohibitions when it enacted them.2 For us to hold that the immunity NRS 41.131(1) declares does not reach suits involving machineguns because of the later-enacted statutes criminalizing their distribution, we would have to treat those later statutes as having impliedly repealed a portion of the civil immunity NRS 41.131 originally conferred. "Repeals by implication are disfavored—very much disfavored"—and limited to the rare situation where a new statutory provision "flatly contradicts an earlier-enacted provision." Antonin Scalia & Bryan A. Garner, supra, at 327; cf. Washington v. State, 117 Nev. 735, 739, 30 P.3d 1134, 1137 (2001) (noting that the practice of implied repeal is "heavily disfavored"). Such flat contradiction does not appear here.
Nor is it the case that in 1985 when the Legislature enacted NRS 41.131 all firearms and types of ammunition were legal, such that its reference to "any firearm or ammunition" arguably only contemplated legal firearms and ammunition. On the contrary, in 1977 the Legislature passed a statute making it illegal to manufacture or sell a short-barreled rifle or shotgun, 1977 Nev. Stat., ch. 437, § 3, at 879-80 (now codified as NRS 202.275), and in 1983 it passed a statute making it unlawful to manufacture [2] The Legislature has further passed statutes in which it "reserves for itself such rights and powers as are necessary to regulate the transfer, sale, purchase, possession, carrying, ownership, transportation, storage, registration and licensing of firearms, firearm accessories and ammunition in Nevada." NRS 268.418(2); NRS 269.222(2); NRS 244.364(2); see also NRS 12.107 (providing that "the State of Nevada is the only governmental entity . . . that may commence a lawsuit against a [firearm] manufacturer or distributor" for claims "resulting from or relating to the lawful design or manufacture . . . or the marketing or sale of a firearm or ammunition to the public," except suits by local governments for breach of contract or warranty concerning purchased firearms or ammunition).
SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA 15 (0) iMTA 420. *16 a nd s e ll a " m e t a l - p e n e t r a ti ng bu ll e t ca p a b l e o f b e i ng f i r e d fr o m a h a ndgun . " S ee 1983 N e v . S t a t ., c h . 327 , § 2 , a t 800 ( no w c od i f i e d a s N R S 202 . 273 ) . Y e t d e s p it e t h e s e s t a t u t e s , w h i c h p r e d a t e d N R S 41 . 131 , a nd d e s p it e t h e s e r i e s o f a m e nd m e n t s t o N R S C h a p t e r 202 a dd i ng , t h e n e xp a nd i ng , c r i m i n a l p r oh i b iti on s on m ac h i n e gun s , t h e L e g i s l a t u r e h a s l e f t N R S 41 . 131 a s o r i g i n a ll y e n ac t e d , w it h it s w o r d i ng un c h a ng e d , fr o m 1985 t o t h e p r e s e n t d a y .
C . T h e f e d e r a l d i s t r i c t c ou r t a nd t h e p a r ti e s n e x t d i r ec t u s t o t h e s ec ond s e n t e n ce o f N R S 41 . 131 ( 1 ) — " T h i s s ub s ec ti on i s d ec l a r a t o r y a nd no t i n d e r og a ti on o f t h e c o mm on l a w . " T h i s s e n t e n ce a l l ud e s t o t w o l ong - s t a nd i ng ca non s o f s t a t u t o r y c on s t r u c ti on : ( 1 ) " S t a t u t e s d ec l a r a t o r y o f t h e c o mm on l a w a r e c o e x t e n s i v e w it h t h e c o mm on l a w a nd no c h a ng e i n m ea n i ng i s p r e s u m e d t o h a v e b ee n i n t e nd e d by t h e i r e n ac t m e n t , " 1 A N o r m a n J . S i ng e r & J . D . S h a m b i e S i ng e r , S t a t u t e s and S t a t u t o r y C on s t r u c ti on § 26 : 5 ( 7 t h e d . 2009 ) ; s ee a l s o S t a t e v . B aba y an , 106 N e v . 155 , 171 , 787 P . 2d 805 , 816 - 17 ( 1990 ) ( no ti ng t h a t a d ec l a r a t o r y s t a t u t e a ff i r m s e x i s ti ng l a w a nd l ea v e s it m o r e c l ea r l y i n f o r ce ) ; a nd ( 2 ) " C ou r t s n a rr o w l y , o r s t r i c tl y , c on s t r u e s t a t u t e s i n d e r og a ti on o f t h e c o mm on l a w , " 3 S h a m b i e S i n g e r , S t a t u t e s and S t a t u t o r y C on s t r u c ti on § 61 : 1 ( 8 t h e d . 2020 ) ; s ee a l s o G i b e lli n i v . K li nd t , 110 N e v . 1201 , 1208 , 885 P . 2d 540 , 545 ( 1994 ) . A s s u c h , t h e s ec ond s e n t e n ce i n N R S 41 . 131 ( 1 ) s e r v e s s i m p l y a s a n i n t e r p r e ti v e gu i d e , p r ov i d i ng t h a t t h e s t a t u t e s hou l d r ece i v e a f a i r r ea d i ng , c on s i s t e n t w it h t h e c o mm on l a w , no t t h e s t r i c t o r n a rr o w r ea d i ng h i s t o r i ca ll y g i v e n s t a t u t e s t h a t ov e r t u r n o r d e r og a t e fr o m t h e c o mm on l a w . S ee 3 S i ng e r , s u p r a , § 6 1 : 4 ( c o l l ec ti n g a n d d i s c u s s i ng s t a t u t o r y p r ov i s i o n s a b r o g a t i n g t h e ca non t h a t s t a t u t e s t h a t d e r og a t e fr o m t h e c o mm on l a w a r e s t r i c t l y o r n a rr o w l y c on s t r u e d ) .
16 *17 NRS 41.131(1) thus directs reference to the common law in interpreting the immunity it declares. It does not evince a "protective or remedial purpose, as the gun companies contend, requiring us to interpret NRS 41.131 liberally in their favor. But neither does the common law to which NRS 41.131(1) refers establish that the Parsonses have a cause of action against the gun companies for the illegal manufacture and distribution of machineguns, as they maintain.
When the Legislature enacted NRS 41.131 in 1985, Nevada common law did not address whether a firearm manufacturer or distributor could be held liable in tort to a third party for injuries or death caused by the criminal misuse of the firearm. But cf. Thomas v. Bokelman, 86 Nev. 10, 13, 462 P.2d 1020, 1022 (1970) (upholding summary judgment for the defendant owner of a firearm used by a third party to shoot and kill the victim on the grounds that the third party's criminal act was a superseding cause of the victim's death). Authority from outside Nevada had held that there is no common-law basis for imposing a duty on firearm manufacturers and distributors for third-party criminal misuse of firearms. Riordan v. Intl Armament Corp., 477 N.E.2d 1293, 1295 (III. App. Ct. 1985) (holding that a firearm manufacturer does not have a common-law duty to control the distribution of nondefective handguns to the public); see also Cassisi v. Maytag Co., 396 So. 2d 1140, 1143 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1981) ("[O]ne who is injured while using a perfectly made axe or knife would have no right to a strict liability action against the manufacturer because the product that injured him was not defective."). But this authority was nascent and did not address whether a weapon's illegality or restrictions of its distribution changed that rule. And the uncertainty as to this issue persists to this day, as the federal coures certification order attests.
SUPREME COURT OF NEVADA 17 40) I947A aseekz• *18 T h i s c ou r t c on fr on t e d a s i m il a r i n t e r p r e ti v e c h a ll e ng e i n H a mm v . C a rs on C it y N ugg e t , I n c ., 85 N e v . 99 , 450 P . 2d 358 ( 1969 ) , a nd it s p r og e ny , H i n e ga r dn e r v . M a r c o r R e s o r t s , L . P . V , 108 N e v . 1091 , 1093 , 844 P . 2d 800 , 802 ( 1992 ) ; Y o s c o v it c h v . W a ss on , 98 N e v . 250 , 252 , 645 P . 2d 975 , 976 ( 1982 ) ; B e ll v . A l pha T au Om e ga F r a t e r n it y , 98 N e v . 109 , 111 , 642 P . 2d 161 , 162 ( 1982 ) ; a nd D a v i e s v . B u tl e r , 95 N e v . 763 , 777 , 602 P . 2d 605 , 614 ( 1979 ) . T h e i ss u e i n H a mm w a s " w h e t h e r t h e h e i r s o f p e d e s t r i a n s w ho w e r e k ill e d by [ a d r unk d r i v e r] h a v e a c l a i m f o r r e li e f f o r w r ong f u l d ea t h a g a i n s t t h e t a v e r n k ee p e r w ho un l a w f u ll y s o l d li quo r t o t h e o ff e nd i ng d r i v e r . " 85 N e v . a t 99 , 450 P . 2d a t 358 . N e v a d a c o mm on l a w d i d no t a n s w e r w h e t h e r li a b ilit y c ou l d b e i m po s e d i n t h i s i n s t a n ce . I d . a t 100 , 450 P . 2d a t 359 . C a s e s e l s e w h e r e w e r e s p lit , a nd s t r ong po li c y a r gu m e n t s e x i s t e d bo t h f o r a nd a g a i n s t i m po s i ng li a b ilit y . I d . a t 100 - 01 , 450 P . 2d a t 359 . A nd , w h il e t h e N e v a d a L e g i s l a t u r e h a d c r i m i n a li ze d p r ov i d i ng li quo r t o m i no r s a nd d r unk a du lt s , it d i d no t p r ov i d e f o r c i v il li a b ilit y f o r v i o l a ti on o f t h e s e p r oh i b iti on s e x ce p t , i n a li m it e d w a y , f o r s e lli ng li quo r t o m i no r s . S ee i d . a t 102 , 450 P . 2d a t 360 . A f t e r d i s c u ss i ng t h e l a w p r o a nd c on f r o m e l s e w h e r e a nd t h e c o m p e ti ng po li c i e s i nvo l v e d , t h i s c ou r t c on c l ud e d , " I n t h e f i n a l a n a l y s i s t h e c on t r o lli ng c on s i d e r a ti on i s pub li c po li c y a nd w h e t h e r t h e c ou r t o r t h e l e g i s l a t u r e s hou l d d ec l a r e it . " I d . a t 100 , 450 P . 2d a t 359 . I n t h e e nd , it d ec i d e d a g a i n s t j ud i c i a ll y i m po s i ng c o mm on - l a w li a b ilit y , ho l d i ng t h a t " i f c i v il li a b ilit y i s t o b e i m po s e d [ i n t h i s s e tti ng ] , it s hou l d b e acc o m p li s h e d by l e g i s l a ti v e ac t a f t e r a pp r op r i a t e s u r v e y s , h ea r i ng s , a nd i nv e s ti g a ti on s t o a s ce r t a i n t h e n ee d f o r it a nd t h e e xp ec t e d c on s e qu e n ce s t o f o ll o w . " I d . a t 1 01 , 4 50 P . 2 d a t 3 59 ; s ee H i n e ga r dn e r , 108 N e v . a t 1096 , 844 P . 2d a t 803 - 04 .
18 *19 NRS 41.131(1)s reference to the common law as the rule of decision incorporates this line of cases. As in Hamm, this case poses profound and competing public policy concerns. The Legislature has passed numerous statutes regulating firearms, but it has not imposed private civil liability for the manufacture and distribution of illegal firearms in violation of federal or state law. Similar to Hamm, the decision whether or not to do so is legislative, not judicial.
Our decision with respect to the immunity provided by NRS 41.131 makes it unnecessary to separately address the federal court's third question about Nevada's negligence per se doctrine. On this issue, the parties provide divergent strands of authority advocating for and against a prerequisite of legislative intent to allow a party's use of negligence per se to establish the standard of care and breach in a negligence action. While that point may warrant clarification in a future case, the immunity provided in NRS 41.131 obviates the need to consider it here. See Hamm, 85 Nev. at 101-02, 450 P.2d at 360.
IV.
In response to the questions certified to us by the federal district court, we hold that NRS 41.131 provides the gun companies immunity from the wrongful death and negligence per se claims asserted against them under Nevada law in this case. We in no way underestimate the profound public policy issues presented or the horrific tragedy the Route 91 Harvest Festival mass shooting inflicted. But this is an area the Legislature has occupied extensively. If civil liability is to be imposed against firearm manufacturers and distributors in the position of the gun companies in this case, that decision is for the Legislature, not this court. We urge the Legislature to act if it did not mean to provide immunity in
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*20 s it u a ti on s li k e t h i s on e . B u t a s w r itt e n , N R S 41 . 131 d ec l a r e s a l e g i s l a ti v e po li c y t h a t t h e P a r s on s e s ca nno t p r o cee d w it h t h e s e c l a i m s und e r N e v a d a l a w .
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F N E VADA 20 ( o ) [1447] A o s i t p .