Bill to Protect American Jobs, Right to Buy a Firearm
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Bill to Protect American Jobs, Right to Buy a Firearm





Legislation now pending before the Congress would prevent further abuse of our nation’s courts when frivolous lawsuits against law-abiding businesses seek to blame them for the criminal misuse of legally sold firearms.
Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) and Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA) introduced HR 800 with strong bipartisan backing from 92 co-sponsors. In the Senate, S 397 has a total of 27 co-sponsors backing “The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act,” introduced by Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) and Senator Max Baucus (D-MT).

The proposed new law enjoys support from business groups, such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Association of Wholesalers, as well as organized labor whose members’ jobs are endangered by such reckless lawsuits that are brought against their employers with the intention of bankrupting them.
Senator Craig introduced the measure saying, "I am proud to sponsor legislation that will put an end to the politically motivated lawsuits against the firearms industry. These outrageous lawsuits attempting to hold a law-abiding industry responsible for the acts of criminals are a threat to jobs and the economy, jeopardize the exercise of constitutionally protected freedoms, undermine national security, and circumvent Congress and state legislatures. They must be stopped."

Representative Stearns noted, "Several cities, counties and individuals have sued the firearms and ammunition industries for the damages and injuries resulting from the criminal use of guns by third parties. These lawsuits employ dubious legal theories that have no legal merit; they are merely attempts to impose their gun control agenda using the courts."

Learn more at these sites:
http://www.nssf.org
http://www.house.gov/stearns
http://www.heritagefund.org

"Our country depends on a fair legal system that protects people who have been harmed without encouraging junk lawsuits that undermine confidence in our courts while hurting our economy, costing jobs and threatening small businesses"
- President George Bush on the issue of legal reform to protect America's economy

Supporting this common sense legislation:

U.S. Chamber of Commerce
United Mine Workers of America
National Association of Manufacturers
United Automobile Workers
Wall St. Journal
United Steel Workers
National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors
International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
National Association of Independent Insurers
United States Senate Sportsman's Caucus
American Tort Reform Association

"This isn't immunity, as some critics claim. Gun makers and distributors would still have to abide by product liability laws and still face civil suits for violating regulations on sales or distribution. But just as Sony is not responsible for someone who uses a camcorder to film child pornography, no longer could Beretta be held responsible for someone using its legally purchased product to rob a liquor store."
- Wall Street Journal April 17, 2003

"Today it's handguns, but tomorrow it could be power tools, golf clubs or automobiles. Manufacturers of perfectly lawful, properly designed and well-functioning products can't rationally be held liable for third-party actions that may result in harm to another."
- National Association of Manufacturers Vice President for Litigation Quentin Riegel
NAM represents 14,000 member companies employing 18 million people

"The U.S. Chamber is greatly concerned about the growing trend of litigation being filed against entire legal industries with the goal of either raising government revenue or achieving policy goals outside the constraints of the political process. The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act would help curtail this abusive situation. The legislation is designed to limit speculative litigation against the firearms industry for legally selling their product. It is important to note that the legislation preserves the ability of injured parties to seek legal redress if they are injured by a defective product or as a result of certain enumerated illegal acts. The legislation simply makes clear that, in most circumstances, a cause of action does not exist against the manufacturer or seller of qualified firearms or a trade association for the criminal or unlawful misuse of the product by the plaintiff or third party."
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce executive vice president R. Bruce Josten

“Our members build the finest small arms in the world ... with many being shipped to the U.S, military and law enforcement personnel to help defend our country and principles of democracy. I am writing this letter in support of the passage of [the] Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. If passed, this law would prevent the senseless lawsuits that have been brought across the country against Colt and other members of the firearms industry. These lawsuits are unfair.”
-United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) president Russ See

“Today, our industry is facing the very real possibility of extinction, Trial lawyers and opportunistic politicians have filed scores of city and municipal lawsuits in an attempt to win through a court judgment changes in firearms laws that Congress and state legislatures have soundly rejected. These lawsuits threaten to bankrupt a legal industry that is heavily regulated by thousands of local, state and federal laws, and undermine the role of elected officials.”
- International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, District 9

“Although the firearms industry has been successful in winning lawsuits...to date, we are just one defeat away from bankruptcy. A multi-million dollar judgment against firearms companies by sympathetic jurors can result in the bankruptcy of a legal, heavily regulated industry that could destroy America’s hunting heritage. National security implications cannot be ignored.”
- United Steelworkers of America Local 170

"We believe that it is a true miscarriage of justice for the manufacturers, wholesaler-distributors and/or retailers of products to be held liable for the misuse of those products by end-users over whose conduct they have no control. The Congress has the opportunity now to pass and send to the President for his expected signature a measure that takes a small step toward returning common sense to our civil justice system."
- National Association of Wholesaler Distributors

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