Congressional Democrats Introduce Firearms Bill to Allow Victims to Prosecute Manufacturers: NPR

Democrats in the House and Senate Tuesday introduced a bill that will allow victims of gun violence to appear in court.

The Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Armed Violence Act aims to remove federal protections blocking firearms and ammunition manufacturers, resellers and trade groups from the United States. most civil suits when a firearm is used illegally or in a crime.

These protections date back to 2005, with the adoption of the Law on the Protection of the Legal Trade in Arms.

Representative Adam Schiff, D-Calif., One of the co-sponsors of the bill, said that since the coming into force of the PLCAA law, federal and US courts have "dismissed many lawsuits against the firearms industry ".

Schiff, surrounded by members of armed violence prevention groups, including Moms Demand Action, Brady and March For Our Lives, said the goal of this law was to "correct the mistake made by Congress "almost fifteen years ago.

"Actors responsible for the firearms industry do not need this limitation of liability. And the irresponsible do not deserve it," Schiff told reporters at the announcement of the law Project.

The PLCAA was promulgated by the then president, George W. Bush, and championed by the gun industry, including the National Rifle Association.

Lawrence Keane of the National Shooting Sports Foundation, a professional firearms trade association, told NPR that his organization "will certainly oppose this legislation". He described the draft law to repeal PLCAA as "fundamentally unfair".

"You would not want to blame Ford or General Motors for impaired driving accidents," said Keane, adding that the current law "works exactly the way Congress wants."

Keane and other supporters of the current law say this law was passed to guarantee manufacturers, resellers and distributors the protection against what they call "frivolous" lawsuits designed to bankrupt the gun industry.

"All we are doing with this proposal is giving victims of gun violence their day in court," said Senator Richard Blumenthal, co-sponsor of the Senate's version of the bill. "Any other industry must pay punitive damages if it intentionally and willfully violates [a] standard of care "to the community.

"This will be a powerful stimulant, as was the case for tobacco, automobiles, pharmaceuticals, for safer products," added Blumenthal.

In March, the Connecticut Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that families of the victims of the Sandy Hook elementary school shootings could sue under the laws of the United States. ;State.

The court said the rifle maker used in the 2012 attacks in Newtown, Connecticut, Remington, could be sued for selling the military-style weapon to civilians.

Blumenthal called Tuesday a "narrow victory for the victims of Sandy Hook", adding that this allowed families "to return to the trial court and seek to prove their cause." This was by no means a total victory for them".

The effort to repeal the PLCAA by Democrats at Capitol Hill is not new.

Schiff introduced this measure for the first time in 2013, and it was reintroduced at least two more times without gaining ground.

Democratic lawmakers said their momentum was now on their side, citing a poll that said 90 percent of Americans favor universal background checks.

Proponents of the new repeal of the APLC also claim that the NRA is in a much weaker position than it was in 2005 due to allegations of financial mismanagement; investigations of the group, including by the Attorney General of New York; and House Democrats' inquiries into the links between NRA officials and individuals linked to Russia.

As the 2019 law on bipartisan background checks and the 2019 Improved Background Checks Act, this new bill is very risky because the Senate, controlled by the Republicans, has shown no interest in pass a law on gun control.

"It's a new day in Congress," said Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, D-Fla., Who pointed out that Wednesday was the third anniversary of mass shooting in Pulse's Orlando nightclub, where 49 people and the shooter are dead.

"We will not stop, no matter who the majority leader in the Senate [Mitch McConnell R-Ky.] ignoring the calls of the American people ".