Atlanta Gun Industry Suit Dismissed

AP | 2/14/02 | PATRICIA M. LaHAY

[kattracks]

ATLANTA, Feb 14, 2002 (AP Online via COMTEX) -- The Georgia Court of Appeals has dismissed a lawsuit by the city of Atlanta against gun manufacturers and trade associations, saying that only states have the right to regulate firearms.

The appeals court's ruling Wednesday overturned a lower court decision that allowed the city to sue 14 gun makers and three trade associations, alleging they are negligent in designing, distributing and promoting firearms and fail to warn of their danger.

The National Rifle Association, which has pushed states to pass laws that make it illegal for cities and counties to file such suits, was "gratified" by the ruling, lobbyist Jim Baker said.

"The contention was that gun manufacturers are responsible for the criminal acts of third parties, which is outside the jurisprudence in this country," Baker said Thursday. "Vicarious liability is not something the courts look kindly upon."

The city, which has a new mayor, has not yet decided whether to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, deputy city attorney Bob Godfrey said.

The lawsuit was filed Feb. 4, 1999, five days before the Georgia General Assembly passed a law prohibiting municipalities from filing such claims.

Since October 1998, when New Orleans filed the first such lawsuit, at least 27 other municipalities have brought similar cases, Baker said. Several of those have been dismissed, while courts have allowed others to continue.

---

On the Net:

Georgia Court of Appeals: http://www.appeals.courts.state.ga.us

National Rifle Association: http://www.nra.org

City of Atlanta: http://www.ci.atlanta.ga.us

By PATRICIA M. LaHAY Associated Press Writer

Copyright 2002 Associated Press, All rights reserved

[kattracks]

indexing

[technochick99]

Whoo Hoo!!!

[Oldeconomybuyer]

This story made big headlines when the lawsuit was filed. Bet the dismissal doesn't.

[Jonathon Spectre]

Good riddance to stupid, unconstitutional rubbish.

[coloradan]

"Only states" have the right? So, this judge thinks all federal gun control is unconstitutional?

[.38sw]

"...fail to warn of their (firearms) dangers."

Huh? Take a look at the booklet that comes with your firearm. Lots of bold red words warning you to be really really careful! Plus, if you don't already know that a firearm can be dangerous if used improperly, you're no smarter than a pithed frog and probably shouldn't be allowed out of the house without an escort.

[goodieD]

Yes!

[Sender]

This is great! What a waste of taxpayer money this lawsuit was. Good riddance.

[FreedomPoster]

Just heard this on the radio coming home. Hurrah! One of our state government entities does something worthwhile for once.

[Jagdgewehr]

This story made big headlines when the lawsuit was filed. Bet the dismissal doesn't.

Very true.

The media modus operandi...
Lawsuit filed against firearms manufacturer...Big story
Lawsuit dismissed...no story
Republican recipient of NRA money...Big story
Democrat recipient of NRA money...no story
Child killed by a firearm...Huge story
Lives saved by possesion or implementation of firearm...no story
Book published debunking interpretation of 2nd Amendment or history of private gun ownership...Big story
Debunking of above book as bogus or counterfeit...no story
Positive impact of Conceal/Carry on crime stats...no story
Anti-2nd Amendment organizer claims "These laws will bring us back to the days of the Wild West! There will be unprecedented levels of death in the streets!"...Big story

Of course, this goes with out saying.

[Draco]

Anybody know if the Jim Baker mentioned in the story as an NRA spokesman is THE Jim Baker who helped Al Gore take earlier retirement and grow a beard?

[Redcloak]

"Another one bites the dust." -Freddie Mercury

[Flyer]

Previously posted HERE

Thread locked.

11 posted on 2/14/02 4:09 PM Pacific by Admin Moderator

Thread locked? Is that a Rastafarian thing?

2A Bump!

[Vigilantcitizen]

" One of the most embarrassing moments of the sleazy Bill Campbell years in Atlanta was the infamous stolen car incident. Here’s your refresher: A car drives up to Bill Campbell’s house. Campbell’s son hops out of the passenger side and heads inside. The car drives off. A police officer guarding Campbell’s residence thinks that something isn’t quite right here. Call it instinct. Anyway – he calls in a check on the license number of the car. Sure enough, it’s stolen. The teenaged friend of Campbell’s son is stopped on down the road.

Now … what would be the reaction of an upright mayor to an incident such as this. We would imagine that the mayor would congratulate the police officer on his finely hones instincts and his good work in recovering a stolen car. But NOT Bill Campbell. He was outraged! He immediately issued an order that from that point forward police officers were NOT to check the license plates of ANY cars that drove into his driveway. Furthermore, police officers were not to approach his house to investigate any suspicious activity unless specifically invited to do so by a resident of the house.

Well – there you have it. A mayor who gives every appearance of tolerating criminal activity – and who castigates the cops when they actually do their job. Just part of the culture of corruption that oozed around Campbell during his eight rancid years in office. Source , Neal Boortz.

By the way, this is the guy who screamed loudest about suing gun manufactures.

[higgmeister]

Bump!

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Bill Campbell is not returning phone calls these days----

[the]

... overturned a lower court decision that allowed the city to sue 14 gun makers and three trade associations.

I can at least understand the crazy idea behind suing manufacturers that produce firearms, but for the life of me I can not understand the theory behind suing trade associations.

Does anyone have a clue on this one?

[meyer]

YYYyyyeeeeeSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!

A good ruling. Now to stop those states from violating the second amendment. :)

[MonroeDNA]

I hope to he!! they appeal to the Supreme Court, so that they may be denied, and this avenue of trying to deny us our right will end.

This "shotgun" approach (pun intended) to attempt to confiscate our arms is starting to irritate me.

[rockfish59]

HA! HA! HA!

my ruger RULES!

[4CJ]

Follow the money. The more for them (in verdicts) the less for the manufacturers and trade associations. Bankrupt.