Rehberg Praises House Passage of Gun Rights Protection Measure
October 19, 2005
WASHINGTON, DC - Montana's Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today hailed House passage of a measure that keeps gun-control activists from holding firearms manufacturers responsible for the actions of violent criminals. With Rehberg's vote, the House today approved the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.
"Making firearms makers liable for the acts of criminals is great for people who like to sue, but a disaster for average citizens who have the right to keep and bear arms," Rehberg, a Billings rancher and cosponsor of the legislation, said. "Let's be honest, these lawsuits have been part of just another sneaky scheme to end our Second Amendment rights."
Over the past seven years, anti-gun activists have filed more than three dozen unsuccessful, costly lawsuits against firearms makers in an effort to drive the manufacturers and dealers out of business by linking gun makers to violent criminals. Montana is home to 83 firearms manufacturers and 1251 firearms dealers. Surveys, meanwhile, indicate more than 60 percent of Montana households have firearms.
"This is just another example of radical activists abusing the judiciary and tying up the courts with frivolous lawsuits designed to slowly bleed-to-death a law-abiding industry - in this case, firearms manufacturers," Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, explained. "What's next, litigation against the makers of knives? It needs to end here."
The measure protects firearms and ammunition manufacturers, distributors, and dealers from civil liability for the misuse of their products by others. Montana is one of 38 states already having enacted similar, state legislation to prevent such lawsuits against firearms makers.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/mt00_rehberg/101905_FirearmsLegis.html