Kansas Supreme Court Hears Gun Liability Case

The state court hears arguments on whether a southeast Kansas gun shop may be held liable for selling a firearm that was later used by a convicted felon to kill his son.

The question before the justices Wednesday was whether to reinstate a negligence case filed against Baxter Springs Gun and Pawn Shop.

The case involves the 2003 murder-suicide of Russell Graham of Baxter Springs, a convicted felon who used a shotgun bought by his grandmother to shoot himself and his son. Graham was initially denied the sale of the gun by the shop owners.

Elizabeth Shirley, wife of Russell Graham, filed the liability lawsuit against the gun shop owners. A lower court dismissed the case, but the Kansas Court of Appeals reversed that decision in 2010, ordering a trial.