Daschle's support infuriates the anti-gun movement - Industry Watch

Shooting Industry, Nov, 2003 by Russ Thurman

The anti-gun movement is in full-auto hysteria. At the epicenter of HCI-Brady's latest outburst is the announcement by Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle that he's supporting S.659, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. The bill targets "junk lawsuits" against the industry.

"The vast majority of gun owners, manufacturers, and sellers are honest and law-abiding," Daschle said. "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."

Remarkable! Does any of this sound familiar? It should. It's what the industry has been saying for years.

Now, don't read into this that Daschle is now a pro-gun advocate. In reality, he had little choice but to back the bill. In recent months, more trade unions--many of them Daschle's constituents--have supported the bill.

He joined the bill's bipartisan coalition after reaching an agreement for an amendment ensuring the act does not protect those in the industry from "legitimate cases."

"The broad coalition supporting this bill does not intend the legislation to provide blanket immunity to 'bad actors,'" Daschle said. "I'm happy that we were able to work together to devise a compromise that protects gun owners, manufacturers, sellers and dealers from meritless and potentially ruinous lawsuits--without infringing on the rights of others."

All this is too much for HCI-Brady. Already in full-screech mode, the Daschle announcement sent the anti-gun organization into meltdown.

"Senator Daschle has co-sponsored S.659, the appalling bill that would give unprecedented legal immunity to the gun industry and bar gun violence victims from suing reckless gun dealers and manufacturers who supply the illegal gun market," HCI-Brady screamed. "We must stop this legislation or the court doors will be slammed shut and gun victims will never have their day in court."

What! HCI-Brady continues to spew this lie, despite all the reporting to the contrary and the Daschle announcement. HCI-Brady took out a full-page ad in the New York Times on Oct. 22 "criticizing a National Rifle Association-backed bill that would strip gun violence victims of their right to sue reckless gun dealers and manufacturers."

There's a reason for HCI-Brady's vicious attack. They need this one. They've lost on virtually every front in recent years, and they thought they could block this bill by parading victims of criminals before the media. It didn't work and won't. The anti-gun movement is desperate. The passage of the bill and its signing into law by the President will be a catastrophic blow to the movement. One from which it may never recover.