Alphecca

S397 Proposed Amendments

Democrats (and an occasional Republican) are flouncing around attempting to attach all sorts of amendments to Senate bill S397, the legislation that would protect gun makers and dealers from frivolous lawsuits resulting from the criminal misuse of their products. One requiring an external safety lock be sold with each new gun was passed. That's okay and hardly objectionable. Actually, most gun makers include such a lock now with their firearms.

Some of the other proposed amendments are simply ludicrous. From the AP:

Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., agreed late Thursday to allow debate on amendments to the measure Friday. One, sponsored by Sen. Jon Corzine, D-N.J., would make police officers exceptions to the bill's restrictions, allowing them to sue. Another, sponsored by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., would do the same for children.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., introduced an amendment that would ban hollow-tipped, "cop killer" bullets. Another, sponsored by Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., would allow individuals, but not municipalities, to file such lawsuits.

And then there's Ted "the lifeguard" Kennedy, who wants to ban hollow-points. He likes to call them "cop killer" bullets but of course they're not. Again, it's not the bullet but how it's used and even a casual browsing of hunting forums shows that cast-hollow-points are very popular because they often (aside from shot placement, of course) help insure a one-shot kill in animals such as deer. Handgun hunting almost requires hollow-points. And yes, for personal defense, a hollow-point is preferable.

Reed's amendment is just silly. So instead of gun manufacturers having to defend against 30 class action lawsuits, they would now have to defend against 3000 individual lawsuits?

I don't expect any of these measures to pass, nor bans or extreme regulations on .50 caliber rifles, either.

It must suck being a Democrat these days, heh.