Senate Democrats Threatening Anti-Gun Filibuster

According to the Washington Times, the bill, backed by both the White House and the National Rifle Association, would prevent lawsuits against gun makers for criminal or unlawful use of their weapons.

Anti-Second amendment Sen. Jack Reed, (D-R.I.) told the Times that he and his Democrat colleagues would "do everything we can to stop this shameful piece of legislation from becoming law'"

The bill passed the House last month by a lop-sided margin of 285 votes to 140, with a third of House Democrats voting for the legislation. The White House has said that the legislation "would help prevent abuse of the legal system and help curb the growing problem of frivolous lawsuits in the United States."

Noting that there has been a flurry of such lawsuits whose sole aim has been to bankrupt the gun industry, supporters of the bill explained that at least 33 municipalities, counties and states have sued gunmakers since 1998, with many claiming that manufacturers allowed weapons to reach criminals because of irresponsible marketing, the Times reported., - The bill now before the Senate which was offered by Sen. Larry Craig, (R-Idaho), has 52 sponsors, enough to pass the legislation in a floor vote. According to Reed, the real battle will be over the bill's backers getting the 60 votes needed to end a filibuster and bring the bill to the floor for a final vote where it appears assured of passage.

In addition to a threatened filibuster, Reed said opponents might try to clutter it up with amendemnts to close gun show loopholes on purchasing waiting periods, add safety lock language and toughen criminal background checks.

Liberal Sen. Barbara Mikulski, (D-Md.), told the Times that under the legislation, the families of the victims of last year's Washington-area sniper attacks would be barred by Congress from suing the Tacoma, Wash., gun shop that sold the gun to the alleged snipers. The shop has no record of that sale or the sales of more than 200 other guns, and the families believe it was negligent.

However, Chris Cox, the NRA's chief lobbyist told the Times that the bill is aimed at protecting legal manufacturers from being held responsible for the illegal actions of criminals. "It doesn't protect those who break state or federal laws," he said. "It doesn't close the door to anyone" filing claims against wrongdoers.

Passing the gun manufacturers' liability bill was the NRA's top legislative priority this year, Cox explained. The liability bill is one of a few gun-related issues to arise in a Congress where gun-control advocates, faced with a Republican president and a GOP-controlled House and Senate, are on the defensive.

On another gun issue, the Times notes that President Bush has given his "qualified support for extending the 10-year ban on assault weapons enacted in a 1994 law,' but House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, has warned Democrats they would not have the votes in the House for any attempt to expand the weapons listed under the ban.