Gun Makers Return Legal Fire

Dateline: 04/26/00

See 4/27/00 Update: U.S. Will Call Child Gun Victims in Court Battle

Claiming government mandated gun control safety measures amount to a conspiracy to violate the commerce clause of the U.S. Constitution, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) along with group of seven gun manufacturers file suit against against federal, state and local officials today.

According to a CNN report, the suits were filed against U.S. Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo, the state attorneys general of New York and Connecticut,  and officials of 14 cities.

Robert Delfay, NSSF president is quoted by CNN as telling reporters, "Our lawsuit arises from a politically motivated scheme in which the bureaucrats have sought to bully law enforcement officials into buying handguns based not on the quality or safety of the product, but on the capitulation by the manufacturer to a regulatory agenda."

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, named in the suite was quoted as saying, "This action is preposterous, false and unfounded, and an insult to law enforcement. It is plainly an effort to deceive and confuse the public and distract law enforcement officials from the work of improving gun safety and stopping crime."\

Over 30 suits against gun makers have been filed by U.S. cities charging that the gun industry's failure to act in preventing gun violence has led to increased costs for law enforcement and medical treatment to citizens. Officials of the U.S. Housing and Urban Development agency have also hinted at filing suit against gun makers holding them liable for deaths and injury due to gun violence in the nation's housing communities.

Many cities and HUD agreed to drop their suites against gun maker Smith & Wesson in March when the firm voluntarily agreed to include trigger locks with all of their firearms.

Gun manufacturers who filed suit today were Beretta U.S.A. Corp., Browning Arms Inc., Colt's Manufacturing Inc., Glock Inc., SIG Arms Inc., Sturm, Ruger & Co. Inc. and Taurus International Manufacturing. 

Reference Links

Gun industry sues public officials over firearms 'code of conduct'
CNN Report of April 26, 2000

National Shooting Sports Foundation Press Release
The Foundation's official statement regarding the suite filed today.

Gun Control Online Discussion Group
Do the gun makers have a case in their suit? Share your opinions in your About.com Guide's online forum.

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