The owner of a gun store in Arlington County, Virginia is suing 64 individuals for harassing the owner and landlord, sending death threats to the 16-year-old daughter of the owner and conspiring to force the business to close.
The Washington Post reported on Monday that seven state legislators, an Arlington County board member, and a school board member were among those named in the lawsuit.
The gun store, NOVA Armory, opened on March 26 amid much controversy. Although some were opposed to the store's opening, hundreds turned out to see the store on its first day. Protesters turned out in opposition to the store. The store has remained open.
Before it opened, four state delegates and three state senators sent a letter on official letterhead to the landlord pleading that he not lease the building to the store.
"In conclusion, while the Commonwealth of Virginia has no legal recourse to prevent a firearms retailer from locating in the Lyon Park neighborhood, we want to make sure you are aware of the potentially unintended consequences a firearms retailer will have in this particular location," the letter to the landlord from lawmakers said.
Pratte's daughter reportedly received a mailed death threat as well.
Pratte is seeking $2.1 million in compensation.
The Washington Post spoke with Del. Mark Levine who is opposed to the store and was named in the lawsuit.
Del. Mark Levine (D-Alexandria), who signed the letter and who was singled out in the lawsuit for his comments on social media, called the lawsuit "frivolous" and "a very, very dangerous attack on the First Amendment, an absolute attack on people’s right to speak out."
"Protests are as American as apple pie, as pro-American as civil rights protests, as boycotts of grapes," Levine said. "If this lawsuit succeeds, the Montgomery (Ala.) bus company ought to sue Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement for that boycott because they wanted to shut down that business."
All seven of the lawmakers named are Democrats.