Moved Out of Range

I said, "I love America, because if somebody does you wrong, you can do them wrong."

"Not so fast, big boy. There are things in this country that are so holy you can't sue -- even if the product is responsible for putting you in the hospital or making your wife a widow."

"Such as?"

"You can't sue a manufacturer or a dealer in guns if you get shot."

"Why not?" I asked Hammer.

"The Senate passed a bill just before going on vacation that you can't sue anyone in the gun business because it is sacred. What it means is, if, for example, someone goes to a gun show and buys a weapon to commit a crime, you can't sue the maker or dealer. It's not their fault."

"Why did the Senate pass such a bill?"

"Stupid question. They were doing it to protect the Second Amendment and to support the National Rifle Association out of fear of losing money."

"How do you feel about it?" I asked

"I'm a lawyer. They're taking business away from me. At the same time, I believe that the Senate is looking out for my best interests. If we allow lawsuits against gun manufacturers, the courts will fill up, and then you will have to wait a long time to sue for the things the senators say you can sue for, such as sex abuse in the workplace."

Therefore, when it comes to guns, the manufacturers had a great victory. The Senate's bill says you can't sue gun makers and dealers for the misuse of a firearm during the commission of a crime. If someone goes to a gun show and then uses the purchased gun to commit a crime, you can't sue the maker and dealer, who did no more than provide the weapon of choice.

The senators passed this bill to protect the U.S. gun manufacturers and to keep the NRA happy.

2005Tribune Media Services