![Judge Weighs Request to Dismiss Lawsuits Over Church Attack](http://townsquare.media/site/516/files/2019/05/GettyImages-873378806.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Judge Weighs Request to Dismiss Lawsuits Over Church Attack
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A federal judge says he'll rule soon on whether to dismiss claims filed in several lawsuits against the U.S. Air Force in connection with a 2017 massacre at a Texas church that killed more than two dozen people.
Relatives of those killed or injured at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs sued , arguing that the federal government was negligent by failing to report gunman Devin Kelley's criminal information to a national database used to conduct background checks of gun buyers.
The Express-News reports lawyers for the Justice Department argued Tuesday in court that federal employees should be shielded from the lawsuits.
A government report released last year said the Air Force failed six times to report information that could have prevented Kelley, a former airman, from buying a gun.
More From KTEM-AM
![Texas House Votes to Raise Legal Smoking Age to 21](http://townsquare.media/site/241/files/2012/09/Marco-Di-Lauro-Getty-Images.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Global Worries Flare Over Whether US Sliding Toward Iran War](http://townsquare.media/site/516/files/2019/05/GettyImages-1148899673.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![San Francisco Bans Police Use of Face Recognition Technology](http://townsquare.media/site/516/files/2019/05/GettyImages-826000302.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Bell County Firework Sales Allowed For Memorial Day](http://townsquare.media/site/514/files/2013/05/fireworks-3-phil-walter-getty-images1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![15 Arrests Made in Central Texas Human Trafficking Sting](http://townsquare.media/site/516/files/2019/05/Human-trafficking-prostitution.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Hubbard Man Arrested for Murder Committed 10 Months Ago](http://townsquare.media/site/516/files/2019/05/Terrance-Jamon-Deal-Ellis-County-Jail-Photo.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Comedian Tim Conway of ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ Dies at 85](http://townsquare.media/site/516/files/2019/05/GettyImages-108540294.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Join Temple Police at Miller Park for Burgers with the Badge](http://townsquare.media/site/516/files/2019/05/Buger-with-the-Badge-Temple-Police.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Temple Street to Close for Two Weeks Beginning May 15](http://townsquare.media/site/516/files/2018/06/Road-Closed.jpg?w=980&q=75)