Delaware can continue investigating Cabela’s for lax storage and shoplifting prevention practices that the state Department of Justice started last year after half a million rounds of ammunition were stolen from its Christiana Mall store, a federal judge ruled.
U.S. District Judge Richard G. Andrews also ordered that the state DOJ’s case can return to Delaware state courts, where stronger laws about gun dealer conduct apply. Andrews also awarded legal fees to the state, which will be determined later.
“I’m grateful to the court for its ruling and glad that Cabela’s legal games continue to be unsuccessful,” Attorney General Kathy Jennings said in a statement. “Almost a year into this investigation, Cabela’s is still evading basic questions and trying to hide the truth. Every round of ammunition that walked out of that store is capable of ending a life, and Cabela’s apparently casual attitude about that fact raises serious questions about just how pervasive their issues were.
“Gun dealers need to take reasonable steps to prevent gun violence — we are still waiting for evidence that Cabela’s did. We’re looking forward to stating our case in Superior Court.”