More than a year and a half after the racist mass shooting in East Buffalo in which 10 people were killed, a company at the center of a civil lawsuit had its day in court.

Thursday's arguments centered around MEAN LLC, the company that manufactured the magazine lock on the shooter's gun.

A lawsuit brought by the families of shooting victims Heyward Patterson, Andre Mackniel and Katherine Massey, claims that the lock, which was intended to make the gun legal in New York, is easily removeable and converts the weapon into an illegal assault weapon.

New York law bans the possession of assault weapons and high-capacity magazines that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. 

The suit also alleges MEAN falsely advertised that the lock is not removable with a tool, which would make it legal in New York.

The crux of MEAN’s argument is that they fall under the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which grants broad spectrum immunity to manufacturers of firearms, ammunition and accessories in a variety of cases for third party actions.

The plaintiffs argue that within that act, there is a predicate exception for “qualified products,” where the marketing flies in the face of state or federal statutes — of which they have pegged two.

But for attorney John Elmore, who’s among the lawyers representing the families, arguing all these proceedings are about much more than that. 

“To prevent mass shootings [and] to stop manufacturers of weapons or weapon components who are irresponsible — social media platforms that are irresponsible, that are radicalizing people and this individual to commit violence,” said Elmore. “It’s got to stop and that’s why we’re here.”

An expected written ruling should be coming before January, but the presiding justice also noted that she will write it with the understanding that this motion will be appealed in either case.