Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act Passes

Finally.

Congress took a historic step today toward ending "junk" lawsuits.

With a 283-144 bi-partisan vote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a landmark bill to block lawsuits that seek to hold firearms manufacturers liable for the criminal misuse of their lawfully sold products. The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (S. 397) will prevent wrongful civil liability lawsuits against law-abiding companies and end years of abuse of America's legal system by industry opponents.

The bill will now head to President Bush, who has said he would sign it if it reached his desk. The U.S. Senate passed the bill in July with a 65-31 bi-partisan vote.

Took long enough.

Of course the Violence Policy Center had a stroke at the news and apparently went into a near Turretes like seizure in their press release.

This bill is built on a corrupt foundation of lies that will leave a legacy of pain and suffering. Proponents lie when they claim the gun industry is the most heavily regulated industry in America when, in fact, they are one of only two industries–the other being the tobacco industry–exempt from federal health and safety regulation. Now the unregulated gun industry will also enjoy protection from legitimate lawsuits by individuals–like victims of the Washington, DC-area snipers–injured by the reckless and negligent actions of gun manufacturers and dealers. This legislation will make the unregulated gun industry the most pampered industry in America.

The bill was not as bad as the gun lobby wanted it to be, however. The bill passed by the House last Congress did not contain the gun control measures included in S. 397: a requirement that gun dealers provide a child safety lock when they sell a handgun; and, a provision requiring a study that may ultimately lead to a strengthening and expansion of the federal ban on armor-piercing ammunition.

Unregulated? Where do these people get their facts?

Unfortunately they did get in their saftey lock provision and the armor-piercing ammo study. Both a major waste of peoples money and time.