Senate Okays Gun Maker Protection Bill — 07/29/2005
(CNSNews.com) - In a vote of 65-31, the Senate Friday passed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (S.397), a measure designed to shield gun makers, dealers, and importers from lawsuits filed by crime victims.
The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Larry Craig (R-Idaho), said the bill “says go after the criminal, don’t go after the law-abiding gun manufacturer or the law-abiding gun seller.” Critics, like Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) accused the GOP and the Bush administration of using the bill as a “payback” to the National Rifle Association.
The NRA applauded the Senate’s passage of the measure, calling it “an historic vote in Second Amendment history.”
“When it comes to something as fundamental as the Second Amendment, the American people are determined to protect this freedom. That’s what happened in the United States Senate today,” said NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre and chief lobbyist Chris Cox in a statement.
The NRA said the bill will “put an end to politically motivated predatory lawsuits.” The group called the measure’s passage “a groundbreaking step forward for law-abiding firearm manufacturers, retailers and owners in this country.”
I’m very happy this went through. I do not see why gun makers should be held responsible for the stupidity of a gun user. Notice I didn’t say “gun owner”, but “user”. Not every time a gun is used in the commission of a crime is the gun being used the property of the user. There are many guns stolen every day that then land in the hand of irresponsible people.
It also ticks me off that cigarette companies were sued because people got sick - even though there are warnings on cigarette packs.
A gun doesn’t kill. A gun is an instrument used by a killer. If this legislation hadn’t been allowed to go through, the next thing we’d see from the loony left was steak knife manufacturers being sued when Drunk Bob stabbed his wife in a stupid drunkin’ rage. Why shouldn’t the steak knife manufacturer be held responsible? If they had not made their product, Drunk Bob wouldn’t have had a knife available to stab his wife. Nope, he’d've to choke the shit out of her with his own bare hands. Then again, I could see the loony left trying to sue God for making them hands.
July 30th, 2005 at 12:46 pm
Perhaps Ted Kennedy should sponsor a bill making car manufacturers responsible for accidents involving drunk drivers, such as vehicles going off bridges. It seems he has been dodging responsibility for that incident most of his career.