Boston Attacks Firearm Industry Boston mayor Thomas M. Menino, like New York's Michael Bloomberg, just can't let it go. Both continue to blame the firearm industry for the actions of criminals, in spite of growing confirmation that doing so is a colossal waste of time and money. Lawsuits have proven frivolous. Courts have rejected the notion. After its discovery phase, Boston itself voluntarily dropped its suit against the industry. Federal law now prohibits such junk lawsuits. And yet, last week, Menino hosted a conference on handgun violence featuring a keynote address by Robert Ricker, the so-called "bombshell witness" whose well-worn testimony against the industry has bombed every time it's been tested.