10.21.2005
House Passes Gun Shield Legislation (Reuters.com)
Thu Oct 20, 2005 1:18 PM ET
By Joanne Kenen
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed and sent to President George W. Bush for his signature legislation giving the U.S. gun industry sweeping protection from civil lawsuits.
The legislation is another huge victory for the National Rifle Association, which with its many allies in Congress has been able to outvote and outflank the dwindling number of vocal gun control advocates in Congress.
The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms bill passed on a bipartisan 283-144 vote, with several dozen Democrats from gun-friendly Southern states or rural areas joining the Republican majority. The Senate already has passed the legislation and the White House strongly backs it.
The legislation would provide gun makers, dealers and distributors with broad immunity from civil lawsuits filed by dozens of cities and municipalities, as well as make it harder for individuals harmed by gun violence to sue.
Backers of the legislation say many of the suits are politically motivated and designed to undermine U.S. citizens' rights to own guns.
(More ... Politics News Article | Reuters.com) ¶ 08:31
By Joanne Kenen
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed and sent to President George W. Bush for his signature legislation giving the U.S. gun industry sweeping protection from civil lawsuits.
The legislation is another huge victory for the National Rifle Association, which with its many allies in Congress has been able to outvote and outflank the dwindling number of vocal gun control advocates in Congress.
The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms bill passed on a bipartisan 283-144 vote, with several dozen Democrats from gun-friendly Southern states or rural areas joining the Republican majority. The Senate already has passed the legislation and the White House strongly backs it.
The legislation would provide gun makers, dealers and distributors with broad immunity from civil lawsuits filed by dozens of cities and municipalities, as well as make it harder for individuals harmed by gun violence to sue.
Backers of the legislation say many of the suits are politically motivated and designed to undermine U.S. citizens' rights to own guns.
(More ... Politics News Article | Reuters.com) ¶ 08:31
