[California State] Senate OKs dropping product liability protections for guns

Associated Press ^ | 8-14-02 | STEVE LAWRENCE

[Oldeconomybuyer]

SACRAMENTO (AP) --

[RonF]

"The plaintiffs claimed the manufacturer of two assault weapons used in those killings, Navegar Inc., was liable for damages because it marketed the guns to appeal to criminals and should have known they would be used in a massacre."

I'm going to be waiting to see how these two points are proved. What kind of marketing presentation has Navegar been using that would indicate that they were appealing to criminals, and how can anyone know that their product can be used in a massacre?

[RonF]

'Scusa: "could be" in the last post should have been "would be".

[Dog Gone]

What kind of marketing presentation has Navegar been using that would indicate that they were appealing to criminals

Auto makers also run ads which apparently appeal to criminals since just about every crook has one. I think that California should step forward and outlaw the internal combustion engine as punishment.

What, they passed that law earlier this summer??

[goldstategop]

The entire idea of this latest push by Kalifornistan's gunbanners is two fold: 1) make it prohibitively expensive to market and sell guns here and 2) to line the pockets of their trial lawyer friends. Basically, the achieve gun prohibition through the back door. Ergo, this state's gun-free utopia is about to arrive!!!

[robertpaulsen]

"..the manufacturer of two assault weapons ... should have known they would be used in a massacre."

The gun manufacturers should let it be known that any lawsuit like the above will be considered frivolous, and that a countersuit will immediately be filed asking for damages.

I'm really getting tired of these companies being so worried about their image that they settle out of court to avoid the negative publicity. The countersuit should not only be directed against the scum-sucking lawyers who bring the suit, but also those they represent. And I hope the judge awards the manufacturers millions.

[Free the USA]

Index Bump

[okie01]

But Sen. Don Perata, D-Oakland, said the bill was "not a gun (control) bill. It's a bill that deals with consumers and their right to go to court and have their day."

In other words, this bill is chiefly about enriching trial lawyers. Putting the screws to gun manufacturers and gun owners is simply a desirable by-product.

[goldstategop]

Its a gun control bill. As I said it achieves the gunbanners objective of banning private ownership of guns through the back door by making guns more expensive to buy and acquire. If you can't buy a gun at any price, you might as well not be able to get one outright. Plus the Rats line the pockets of their trial lawyer friends who in turn give them a share of the proceeds through campaign donations. Its a beautiful sweetheart deal all around except for gun manufacturers and gun owners.

[itzmygun]

"There ought to be product liability when something is responsible for 30,000 deaths in America every year and for countless injuries," said Sen. Jack Scott, D-Altadena.

The liable product here is liberalism, which has pushed for rehabilitation over punishment, and generally fought for "criminal's rights."

[jdub]

I was thinking of car buyers as well when I read this part:

There ought to be product liability when something is responsible for 30,000 deaths in America every year and for countless injuries," said Sen. Jack Scott, D-Altadena

Personally, I believe the auto industry is incredibly negligible when I see race car drivers walk away from crashes that would leave your or I an unrecongnizable pulp. They could make all of our cars that safe if they really wanted to (or if we were willing to spend that much money for a car).

[INSENSITIVE GUY]

THE SENATE SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE!

[Dog Gone]

They could make all of our cars that safe if they really wanted to (or if we were willing to spend that much money for a car).

Do you wear a 5-point seatbelt and a helmet when you drive? That has a lot to do with it.

[Poohbah]

The gun manufacturers and ammunition manufacturers should also refuse to sell to the California government or any agency within California, and terminate all warranty support.

[Sloth]

Other products are "subject to normal tort standards for liability," he said. "We're not asking for anything more or anything less, just the same thing" for guns.

What a bald-faced lie!

[muir_redwoods]

What are the product liability standards for, knives, razor blades, hot coffee and, for that matter, assinine chicken-$hit state lagislators.

Gun-owners in CA should simply leave. Leave the state with an unarmed law-abiding population so the criminally armed thugs can teach the world an object lesson.

It's a beautiful state but I could never live there until the national socialists are ousted

[NEWwoman]

>>The gun manufacturers and ammunition manufacturers should also refuse to sell to the California government or any agency within California, and terminate all warranty support.

Brilliant! These politicians have CHiPs protecting them - at taxpayer expensive. Let them live under same laws they make for the rest of us.

[nightdriver]

But Sen. Don Perata, D-Oakland, said the bill was "not a gun (control) bill. It's a bill that deals with consumers and their right to go to court and have their day."

Isn't this the same turkey that sponsored a bill that would put a tax on bullets? Sounds like he's unencumbered with the thought process!

[drypowder]

The people that voted for this bill ought to be removed from the gene pool for sheer stupidity. If Grayvis signs this one you can bet the trial lieres will dump tons of $ his direction.

[Sender]

What kind of marketing presentation has Navegar been using that would indicate that they were appealing to criminals?

In their ads, they touted a durable matte finish that resists corrosion from fingerprints, and the idiots spun that into thinking the ads appealed to people who would not want their fingerprints left on a weapon. It's just spin from complete morons. They also claimed hi-cap mags appeal only to criminals. Dang, I guess since I hate corrosion and like hi-caps, I must be a criminal. Arrest me, ossifer.