[Mb-civic] CBC News - U.S. GUN COMPANIES GIVEN PROTECTION FROM LAWSUITS

Fri Oct 21 05:44:07 PDT 2005

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U.S. GUN COMPANIES GIVEN PROTECTION FROM LAWSUITS
WebPosted Thu Oct 20 17:00:44 2005

---The U.S. Congress has equipped the firearms industry with a protective
shield, passing a bill that shelters it from lawsuits brought on by gun
victims or their families.

The House of Representatives voted 283 to 144 on Thursday, sending the
bill for President George W. Bush to sign.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) declared a victory, saying the bill
will keep the industry from being bankrupted by huge court awards.

"I look forward to signing this legislation into law," said Bush.

Anti-gun lobby groups say they are upset because passage of the bill
proves how much influence the gun industry has over the Republican-
controlled Congress.

"The unregulated gun industry [is] the most pampered industry in
America,' said Kristen Rand, director of the Violence Policy Center.

Support for the bill has grown since hurricane Katrina, which smashed
into the Gulf Coast in early September. Scenes of lawlessness in the
aftermath of the storm have bolstered public support for the bill.

The bill's authors say civil suits will still be allowed against
individuals found guilty of criminal acts. Gun manufacturers and dealers
would still be subject to product liability or negligence lawsuits.

Rep. Cliff Stearns, a Florida Republican who sponsored the bill, said the
lawsuits were "intended to bankrupt the firearms industry."

Maryland Democrat Rep. Chris Van Hollen, whose district was affected by a
deadly sniper in the Washington, D.C., area three years ago, said the
bill will "strip innocent victims of crimes of their rights."

The NRA also managed to undo the 10-year-old ban on assault weapons
last year.