Anti-Gun Activists Tout 'Cure' for 'NRA Mad Sheep Disease'

CNS News ^ | 10/24/03 | Jeff Johnson

[m1-lightning]

Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - Angry that a bi-partisan group of 55 senators is cosponsoring legislation to prohibit lawsuits against gun makers and sellers for the actions of criminals, anti-gun activists swarmed the hallways of Senate office buildings Thursday offering a "cure" for "Mad NRA Sheep Disease."

Second Amendment supporters responded that opponents of the bill should have read the legislation before criticizing it inaccurately.

The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (S. 659) passed the House in April by a vote of 285-140. Critics of the bill call it "nothing but a gift to the gun industry.

"This special-interest, giveaway legislation flies in the face of freedom," claimed Suzi Robinson, president of the Virginia "Million Mom March" state council. "It is this legislation that re-victimizes the victims of gun violence by denying them their right to hold a negligent gun industry accountable."

Members of the "Million Mom March United with the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence" displayed hand-puppet "sheep" with the letters "NRA" stapled to their chests and reduced-size photocopies of $20 and $100 bills stapled to one hoof along with the silhouette of a semi-automatic rifle stapled to the other. The group distributed a list of the 55 senators who support the legislation along with instructions for the senators'/puppets' care. The document described the senators as "very sick puppets suffering from Mad NRA Sheep Disease.

"Symptoms include blindness, lack of judgment and fear of retaliation by the NRA," the instructions continued. "In the most acute cases, the disease renders the victim spineless."

Robinson said the activists were on Capitol Hill to "care for" the "sheep."

"We are here today to herd the flock of NRA sheep into different pastures," Robinson said of the senators who support the bill, which is backed by the National Rifle Association (NRA).

Lillian Pubillones Nolan, president of the Maryland "Million Mom March" state council, also complained that "Washington is full of NRA sheep." She noted the trial of accused sniper John Muhammad, underway in Virginia Beach, Va., and specifically referenced the semi-automatic rifle allegedly used by the snipers after being stolen from a retail firearms outlet in Tacoma, Wash.

"The NRA and its allies in the Senate are pushing a bill that will give immunity to that gun dealer in Tacoma, Wash.," Nolan claimed. "How can these senators do the bidding for the NRA when they know that this bill will leave Bull's Eye off the hook?"

The volunteer anti-gun activists were not the only ones complaining about the so-called "blanket immunity" that the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act would allegedly grant gun makers and sellers.

"Congress is ready to side with the gun industry by immunizing negligent gun manufacturers and dealers from liability," claimed Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), "when their behavior results in guns falling into the hands of [the] wrong people."

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.) echoed Lautenberg's charge.

"No industry in this country...has such a broad-based exemption from any type of liability for negligence," Reed alleged. "Victims will go without redress."

Toby Hoover, executive director of the Ohio Coalition Against Gun Violence, argued that anti-gun activists only want the firearms industry "to be responsible and accountable" for its alleged negligence.

"But [the firearms industry] wants no regulations on the products it makes millions of dollars on," Hoover claimed.

Ted Novin, spokesman for the National Rifle Association, wondered how the anti-gun critics could accidentally misrepresent the contents of the proposal.

"Either they have not read the bill or they are being disingenuous," Novin said. "The legislation will not prevent lawsuits in situations where a firearm is defective or a law has been broken [by a gun maker or seller]."

As Novin indicated, the language of the bill only prohibits lawsuits against firearms or ammunition manufacturers, distributors and dealers "for damages or injunctive relief resulting from the criminal or unlawful misuse of [firearms or ammunition] by the person [bringing the lawsuit] or a third party ."

Contrary to the claim of the anti-gun activists, the proposal specifically authorizes suits for negligence and other factors they said would be exempted, including lawsuits brought against firearms or ammunition manufacturers, distributors or dealers for:

illegally selling or otherwise providing guns or ammunition to a person with the knowledge that they will be used in a violent or drug trafficking crime;

negligence or negligently providing firearms or ammunition when the seller knew or should have known that doing so was not safe;

harm directly caused by intentional violations of state or federal laws concerning the sale or marketing of firearms and ammunition;

breach of contract or warranty in connection with the purchase of the product; or

physical injuries or property damage resulting directly from a defect in design or manufacture of the firearm or ammunition, when used as intended.

In each of the types of lawsuits allowed by the bill, the suit may proceed only if it is brought by a person directly harmed or injured by the allegedly illegal or negligent action, or by that person's estate, if deceased.

Anti-gun mayors and county administrators would no longer be allowed to sue gun makers in an attempt to recover the costs of medical treatment for firearms injuries caused by criminals. They could, however, still sue the criminal who was actually responsible for the injuries.

Novin called the legislation "a common sense measure."

"That is why the bill passed the U.S. House by a better than two-to-one margin and enjoys 55 co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate, including the Senate majority and Senate minority leader," Novin concluded, "and why President Bush has indicated that he would sign this bill."

The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act could be considered by the Senate before the end of the year. Anti-gun liberal Democrats have threatened to filibuster the bill, since they do not have the votes to stop its passage.

[m1-lightning]

"Either they have not read the bill or they are being disingenuous," Novin said. "The legislation will not prevent lawsuits in situations where a firearm is defective or a law has been broken [by a gun maker or seller]." This seems to be the case by many liberals. They jump to conclusions after reading ONLY the headline. In the other case, they think that sueing gunmakers will somehow make it too expensive for people to buy guns and then somehow guns will just magically dissappear. Oh what a bubble world these people live in..

[babyface00]

It appears the real sheep in this issue are the ones who sent the puppets.

[keithtoo]

What a laugh!! The libs and control freak socialists WANT sheep, and now they are saying that people who want to take control of their own lives are 'sheep'.

These folks are delusional. They are lost in a dreamworld.

[babyface00]

Oops. My bad. I thought they sent the puppets to the senators. I guess they brought the puppets and held them.

So my comment should have been:

"It appears the real sheep in this issue are the ones with the puppets"

[m1-lightning]

A somewhat similar anti-gun activists article from today:

Anti-gun activists shoot themselves in the foot

[NeoCaveman]

this made me maaaaad

[Yo-Yo]

Baaaaah-ng!

[Hugin]

This only proves Rush's axiom that when liberals are out of power is when they do all kinds of whacko amusing stuff. When they are in power they are just dangerous.

These freaks are getting truly desperate, and that is making them stupid. It's not real smart political lobbying to insult the people whose votes you are trying to win.

[Badray]

They aren't getting it wrong by mistake. They are lying. They would lie even if the truth was better for their cause because they are in the habit and business of lying.

[Ribeye]

They are delusional. But most of their supporters (hysterical soccermons, feminized men, etc) just aren't informed.

I work with a bunch of libs. I am amazed at how many people hate guns but have never even HELD one, let alone fire one.

A lot of these followers are just not educated. I have taken two men and one woman shooting in the last year. They were (and still are) liberals.

All three had a great time! We went over all the safety rules, talked about the seriousness of firearms safety, then started blasting away. We started with the .22 worked up to the 9mm and 45auto, then .223 & .308. The grins were ear to ear at the end of each session.
Since my trips to the range with tese folks the WOMAN and one of the guys are now gun owners. SHE actually joined the NRA and CPRA!

They are still liberals (too bad...) but maybe not quite as wildeyed and they have a whole different take on firearms.

Find a lib near you and offer to take them shooting! I bet 1 of of 4 non-gun types can be converted. At least they won't have the horrible fear of guns that the left has burned into their brains all these years. The more people we can convert the faster the anti-gunner will fade away.

[CholeraJoe]

I own guns and I vote. I just bought a new assault rifle yesterday. It took me 15 minutes.

[m1-lightning]

"Congress is ready to side with the gun industry by immunizing negligent gun manufacturers and dealers from liability when their behavior results in guns falling into the hands of [the] wrong people." - Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.)

So can I sue the UAW for building vehicles that fall in the hands of the wrong people? You're right, Badray, pure lies. It's a stupid political game they are going to continue to lose.

[sauropod]

This is too rich.

[ladtx]

Same here. Matter fact just last weekend I bought a set of rosewood grips for my Colt M1991A1. Made a nice looking weapon even nicer, purty - you could almost say.

[Billthedrill]

The problem the anti-gun activists have with this legislation is not that it will prevent product-liability lawsuits for defective weapons, it is that it will prevent new, creative approaches in lawsuits that seek to use laws intended to protect the users against defective firearms to apply to perfectly sound firearms operating as designed. I'm surprised the Trial Lawyers' Association hasn't screamed bloody murder at this - it's big potential money out of their pockets.

[m1-lightning]

it's big potential money out of their pockets.

On the money! It's one of the biggest liberal get rich scams out there. It's no different than the lady walking up and down the aisle at the grocery store looking for misleading product labels so she can sue for her unearned wealth.

[John Will]

I see now why the democratic mascot is an Ass.

[Fierce Allegiance]

Something to think about
In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control.
From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1911, Turkey established gun control. .
From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1938, Germany established gun control. .
From 1939 to 1945, 13 million Jews and others, who were unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1935, China established gun control. .
From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1964, Guatemala established gun control. .
From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1970, Uganda established gun control. .
From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1956, Cambodia established gun control. .
From 1975 to 1977, one million “educated” people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
The number of defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: ABOUT 55 MILLION!
So, the next time someone tries to tell you that this country needs MORE gun control laws, ask them:
“Who do YOU want to round up and exterminate?”

[m1-lightning]

[blackie]

The Second Amendment...
America's Original Homeland Security!

Stop the attacks on our God given Rights by the extreme wacko left-wing anti-gun nazis!

The Right Of The People To Keep And Bear Arms Shall Not Be Infringed!

An Armed Citizen, Is A Safe Citizen!

Guns Save Lives!

No Guns, No Rights!

Freedom Is Worth Fighting For!

Molon Labe!

FMCDH!