Decius wrote:

Mike the Usurper wrote:

No other American industry, no other branch of commerce would have this kind of special protection from civil law. Not drug makers, hospitals, doctors, farmers, or food processors. Not knife makers, car companies, tobacco companies, brewers, distillers or firecracker makers. Just the gun industry

And this morning, it passed.

If I buy a baseball bat from a sporting goods store and beat someone to death with it, can the victim's family sue the sporting goods store for civil liability? I don't think this law is the end of the world.

The reason this is notable is the the gun industry and NRA have been doing some extremely questionable things. For example, the rifle used by the DC snipers was stolen from a gun store in Washington State. That shop was not even aware the weapon was missing until it was traced back to them. Other cases include groups at gun shows doing things to circumvent the waiting period, or background checks entirely.

The law here doesn't just protect the manufacturers, but also the people who are doing things in that vein. By virtue of being a gun dealer, you are now immune to civil proceedings. Is it possible that they would still be criminally liable? Sure, they can go to jail, but they can't be sued for those things. Something in that idea is wrong.

RE: CBS News | The Gun Lobby's Dead Aim | August 1, 2005�21:30:16