General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: How Bernie Sanders Helped Derail a Promising Legal Fight Against Gun Violence [View all]SunSeeker
(51,550 posts)The law he voted for and still supports, the shamelessly named "Protection of Lawful Commerce in in Arms Act" (PLCAA) protects firearms manufacturers and dealers from being held liable when crimes have been committed with their products---EVEN if they are partially at fault. It completely absolves them of any liability for causation.
We DO hold car manufacturers responsible if they knew or should have known that drunk drivers are making auto purchasers from particular showrooms. No such lawsuits that I am aware of have been brought because no sane salesman would let someone drive a car off the lot who appeared impaired (plus, anyone who had a drink before coming to the lot would dry out by the time the hours-long car buying paperwork ordeal concluded, unlike gun purchases).
But as the article points out, when dealers and gun manufactures knew or should have known their guns were being sold to criminals (as has been widely reported, a handful of dealers account for the lion's share of sales to criminals), the PLCAA gets them off the hook. That is unconscionable.