Hunt_News
10-10-05, 10:34
RULING ALLOWS D.C. CASE TO PROCEED . . . The U.S. Supreme Court refused the firearm industry's request to strike down a District of Columbia Court of Appeals ruling permitting lawsuits against firearms manufacturers. Twelve states had also urged the justices to hear the case and to rule as unconstitutional a D.C. law that imposes automatic liability when gun makers' products are misused by criminals to commit crimes. "The District of Columbia's statute threatens . . . gun manufacturers with draconian penalties based on their lawful out-of-state commercial activity—and on the criminal misconduct of third parties over whom the manufacturers have no control," said former Solicitor General Theodore Olson in a petition filed in July on behalf of firearms manufacturers. The Supreme Court's decision underscores the urgent need for Congress to pass the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which would scuttle the D.C. lawsuit and other unwarranted suits against the industry. The House of Representatives is expected to take action on the Senate-approved version of the bill the week of Oct. 17. Urge your representative to pass the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.