Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act

The WSG editorial on the legislation to protect gun manufacturers from the most recent style of lawsuits.

Senate Republicans say they have 60 votes to pass the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which would protect gun makers from lawsuits claiming they are responsible for crimes committed with their products. The support includes at least 10 Democrats, which speaks volumes about the political shift against "gun control" in recent years.

The "assault weapons ban" expired with a whimper last year. State legislatures have been rolling back firearm laws because the restrictions were both ineffectual and unpopular. Gun-controllers have responded by avoiding legislatures and going to court, teaming with trial lawyers and big city mayors to file lawsuits blaming gun makers for murder. Companies have been hit with at least 25 major lawsuits, from the likes of Boston, Atlanta, St. Louis, Chicago and Cleveland. A couple of the larger suits (New York and Washington, D.C.) are sitting in front of highly creative judges and could drag on for years.

I truly hope this gets passed. Though I must say I'm still dismayed that this legislation is so narrowly focused. If the legislation had been broader to include all legal products whose illegal use prompts lawsuits, it would likely have been bullet proof. (yep. pun intended.)