Gunshow (Law & Order episode)

"Gunshow" is the 206th episode of NBC's legal drama Law & Order, and the season premiere of the tenth season.

Plot

A group of female medical students is gunned down in Central Park by a rejected applicant. During the investigation, it is learned that the murder weapon was an otherwise legal semi-automatic firearm that can be easily converted to full automatic mode. Based on the theory that the gun manufacturer did not modify the gun design to make it more difficult to turn into an illegal weapon, McCoy attempts to prosecute the company for murder.

At the conclusion of the episode, the jury returns a guilty verdict against the manufacturer. However, the trial judge sets aside the judy verdict and issues a directed verdict of not guilty, explaining that the case was certain to be overturned on appeal and that a trial courtroom is not the place to decide constitutional issues.

The Law portion of this episode was inspired by the École Polytechnique Massacre. The episode also marks the debut of Junior Detective Ed Green.