Sometime during the dead of last night, the NRA-ILA website was updated to provide readers an ongoing analysis, dated Friday, 27 February 2004, of S. 1805 (Lawsuit Preemption). http://www.nra.org/frame.cfm?url=https://www.nrahq.org/contact.asp
Two interesting excerpts are:
”The Senate then debated and voted upon two amendments seeking to gut S. 1805. The first related to the D.C. sniper case, but the proposal by Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) was defeated, 56-40. A so-called "law enforcement" exemption offered by Sen. Jon Corzine (D-N.J.) was soundly defeated, 56 to 38.
"NRA strongly opposed both amendments. One of the strengths of S. 1805 is that it adopts the same rules for all plaintiffs, no matter how sympathetic or unsympathetic, and no matter how notorious or mundane their victimization. Plaintiffs` rights should depend on settled principles of law, not on emotion or sympathy."
But, the NRA update DID NOT address an ALREADY PASSED Amendment sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist that violates the exact principle for the NRA opposition to the Mikulski Amendment.
"S.AMDT.2630 to S.1805 To protect the rights of law enforcement officers who are victimized by crime to secure compensation from those who participate in the arming of criminals. Sponsor: Sen Frist, Bill [TN] (introduced 2/26/2004) Cosponsors: 1 Latest Major Action: 2/26/2004 Senate amendment agreed to. Status: Amendment SA 2630 agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 60 - 34. Record Vote Number: 21"
The Frist Amendment says, in effect, 'Its OK to have a frivolous lawsuit against a manufacturer, dealer, or other third-party, so long as a policeman (and his lawyer) get all the money.'
In other words, contrary to their own statement: “ One of the strengths of S. 1805 is that it adopts the same rules for all plaintiffs, no matter how sympathetic or unsympathetic, and no matter how notorious or mundane their victimization. Plaintiffs` rights should depend on settled principles of law, not on emotion or sympathy", the NRA does not oppose, nor even speak about, the Frist Amendment S.AMDT.2630 to S.1805 .
Maybe I’m too idealistic, or naive – but, I simply do not understand the NRA’s duplicitous position on these Amendments.