States debate legislation that repeals gun industry protections

KARAH RUCKER: THE FIREARMS INDUSTRY IS STILL LARGELY PROTECTED UNDER FEDERAL LAW FROM BEING HELD LIABLE IN MASS SHOOTINGS.

BUT SOME LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING TO PASS LEGISLATION AT THE STATE LEVEL – THAT WOULD MAKE SUING GUN STORES EASIER IF THEIR WEAPON IS USED IN A MASS SHOOTING.

A BILL INTRODUCED IN COLORADO’S STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TODAY AIMS AT REPEALING A STATE LAW THAT PROTECTS FIREARM COMPANIES FROM BEING HELD LIABLE FOR VIOLENCE PERPETRATED WITH THEIR PRODUCTS.

THE BILL ALSO OUTLINES A NEW CODE OF CONDUCT FOR GUN MAKERS TO FOLLOW INCLUDING HOW MARKETING TACTICS COULD LAND THEM IN COURT.

HAWAII, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, NEW MEXICO AND MARYLAND ARE CONSIDERING SIMILAR BILLS IN THEIR STATE LEGISLATURES

IT’S UNCLEAR HOW SUCCESSFUL ANY STATE LAW WOULD BE – GIVEN STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK ARE ALREADY FACING LAWSUITS OVER SIMILAR LEGISLATION.

BUT EVEN WITH BROAD IMMUNITY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL– FIREARM COMPANIES HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFULLY SUED IN YEARS PAST.

REMINGTON MADE THE RIFLE USED IN THE 2012 SANDY HOOK SHOOTING – THEY SETTLED A LAWSUIT FOR 73 MILLION DOLLARS AFTER FAMILIES SAID THE COMPANY TARGETED AT-RISK MALES IN ADVERTISING AND USED PRODUCT-PLACEMENT IN VIOLENT VIDEO GAMES.

THE LATEST PROPOSED LEGISLATION IS THE LATEST ATTEMPT FROM STATES TO REMOVE LEGAL PROTECTIONS FROM THE GUN INDUSTRY AMID MASS SHOOTINGS.

WHILE CRITICS OF THE LEGISLATION SAY IF COORS BREWING COMPANY SHOULDN’T BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CUSTOMER DRINKING AND DRIVING, THEN GUN BUSINESSES CAN’T BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT THEIR CUSTOMERS DO.