September 25, 2003

Bipartisan Support Grows for Federal Legislation
To End “Junk Lawsuits” Against Firearms Makers
Democrat and Republican Senate Leaders Back S. 659

NEWTOWN, Conn. — Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) has joined with the Democratic Whip in the Senate, Harry Reid (D-NV), and the Senate’s Majority leader, Bill Frist (R-TN), in supporting legislation to dismiss lawsuits brought against manufacturers of non-defective firearms when criminals misuse their products.

The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act passed the House in April with an overwhelming and bipartisan vote of 285-to-140, and the Senate version enjoys support from organized labor members working in the firearm industry as well as the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors.

The bill, S. 659, would not prevent those with a genuine grievance from having their day in court, and does not hinder lawsuits where negligence, defective products, or criminal acts are involved. In a statement released today announcing his support, Daschle asserts, “The vast majority of gun owners, manufacturers and sellers are honest and law-abiding.” Daschle adds, “It is wrong -- and it is a misuse of the civil justice system -- to try to punish honest, law-abiding people for illegal acts committed by others without their knowledge or involvement. That’s not the way we do things in America. We don’t hold innocent people responsible for acts they are not involved in and over which they have no control.”

Fellow South Dakota Democrat Tim Johnson is among 54 co-sponsors of legislation to protect the jobs of tens of thousands of Americans working for law-abiding, federally regulated companies who stand to be put out of work if the industry is sued out of business. More than 30 states have already enacted similar legislation, but a reform to federal law is needed prevent frivolous, politically motivated lawsuits filed by municipalities and special interest groups from bankrupting responsible companies by blaming them for the actions of criminals.

“We look forward to the Senate taking final action on this common sense legislation to end the abuse of our legal system,” said Doug Painter, president of the National Shooting Sports Foundation. “Those with an interest in manufacturing or selling manufactured goods of any kind should ask their Senators to pass this bill.”

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), since 1961 the trade association for the makers and sellers of firearms, ammunition and related hunting and recreational shooting products, has been named as a defendant in some of the groundless suits brought against the industry.