The Department of Justice has appealed a verdict that found the government liable for the 2017 shooting at a Sutherland Springs, Texas, church and awarded the victims’ families $230 million, a move critics said could hand a victory to the gun lobby and undermine gun safety laws.
In its appeal brief filed Monday, the law enforcement agency argued that under Texas law, the U.S. government should not be held responsible for the shooting — it was found 60% liable — despite failing to report information that could have caused the shooter, Air Force court-martialed Devin Kelley, to fail a background check when purchasing a weapon.
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