School shooting energizes gun-control forces

Shooting Industry, June, 1999

The tragic shootings April 20 at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo., have thrust the gun-rights issue back onto the national scene and energized gun-control forces. Within hours of the mass killings, anti-gun proponents were delivering their message, calling for many of the restrictions that have failed in the past, and adding more severe proposals.

The shootings also provided encouragement to big-city mayors who have filed lawsuits against the industry.

More Gun Control

In Washington, President Clinton at first asked for a time of healing. "We owe it to the people of Littleton and to the families involved in this tragedy to let them go through the grieving and deal, and try to get the facts," Clinton said.

However, one week later, the President unveiled proposed gun legislation. It included:

* Mandatory child-safety locks on all guns sold.

* All gun-show sales be subject to background checks on buyers.

* A lifetime ban on gun ownership for people who commit violent crimes as juveniles.

* A three-day waiting period for all handgun purchases.

* Criminal liability and a $10,000 fine for adults, including parents, who allow children access to guns.

In addition, the President proposed additional restriction on explosives sales.

The President's proposals, according to White House sources, don't reflect the full extent of what the administration wants to achieve. In addition to the publicly stated proposals, the behind-the-scene options include:

* An outright ban on handguns and an expanded list of "nonsporting" weapons.

* Mandatory registration of all guns owned by Americans.

* Supporting big cities in their lawsuits against the industry.

* Banning student shooting teams.

Not all of the President's supporters were ready to endorse additional restrictions on gun owners.

"I'm not sure that gun legislation is what we need," said Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) Instead, Daschle blamed the school shootings on neglectful adults and violence in the media and on the Internet. "Those are the kinds of things we'd better be looking at," he said.

"The answer lies somewhere in the hopelessness and the hateful hearts of the children who have lost their way, and in the path that brought them to this despondent act," said the House's top Democrat, Rep. Dick Gephardt (D-Mo.).

One of the industry's strongest supporters on Capitol Hill, Rep. Bob Barr (R-Ga.) pointed out that the tragedy of school shootings won't be solved by government.

"The problems that create young demons like the Colorado shooters go far deeper than access to guns," Barr said. "The solution's going to have to come from our schools."

More Lawsuits

Within a week of the shootings, Detroit and Wayne County sued the industry. The suit against 31 companies calls for more than $100 million for "the havoc wreaked on the city" by firearms.

"The industry profits from the assaults, maiming and killings on the streets of our city and county," said Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer. "Detroit and Wayne County have had enough."

According to Deputy County Executive Mike Duggan, the lawsuits claim that firearm manufacturers and dealers sell firearms to customers knowing that the guns will go to other people.

These "straw purchases," according to Sheriff Robert Ficano, were uncovered during a sting operation involving 10 gun dealers. Ficano said that nine of the 10 dealers "allowed straw purchases" to undercover agents who said they were felons or juveniles.

Protection Uncertain

On Capitol Hill, the bill (H.R. 1032), the Firearms Heritage Protection Act of 1999, that would prohibit the lawsuits remains in the House Judiciary Committee where it was referred on March 2.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Bob Barr, has gathered 70 co-sponsors from both parties; however, in the wake of the school shootings, the fate of the bill is in question.

Barr emphasized that the bill is designed to stop "abusive, frivolous lawsuits against gun manufacturers in both federal and state courts by barring claims for damages from the criminal misuse of such products. It does not in any way affect lawsuits against manufacturers for defective firearms or ammunition, or for transferring a firearm to a person who they know will use it in the commission of a crime."