Senate bans lawsuits against gun manufacturers

By Vince Mancini

Published on August 02, 2005

In a 65-31 vote, the Senate passed a bill that opponents said was a handout to the gun lobby, while supporters argued that it protects an important industry from financial disaster.

Supporters say the bill is meant to target the criminal and not the gun manufacturer. Opponents say the gun industry needs no special protection and that the bill is an attempt to appease the gun lobby.

The bill does not protect firearm manufacturers from product liability, negligence or breach of contract suits.

A similar bill was junked by supporters last year when Democrats attached an assault rifle ban. This time the bill included a new requirement that each handgun be sold with a separate locking device, while attempts to insert language that would allow suits by children and police, and a ban on hollow-tipped bullets failed.

Comment on this article →