BARR STEPS IN TO DERAIL LAWSUITS

      As predicted in last week's FAX Alert (Vol. 6, No. 8), U.S. Representative Bob Barr (R-Ga.) has introduced H.R. 1032, legislation to block the frenzy of reckless litigation aimed at firearms manufacturers filed by cities and anti-gun organizations. This bill already has wide bipartisan support, with 34 cosponsors and support from organizations such as Americans for Tax Reform, showing that this is clearly an issue that alarms diverse constituencies.

      Barr's legislation calls for a prohibition on any litigation that seeks to hold manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and importers who deal in non-defective firearms responsible for the misuse of their products. Contrary to the anti-gunners' claims, it does not absolve gun manufacturers from liability if a truly defective product is actually produced.

      Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Cal.) has already jumped on the opposition bandwagon by stating that she will soon introduce legislation to confirm that cities and other entities

"[Barr's bill] does not absolve gun manufacturers from liability if a truly defective product is actually produced"

may enter into such reckless litigation. And of course, Senators Durbin (D-Ill.), Lautenberg (D-N.J.), and Schumer (D-N.Y.) continue to promote S. 560 -- their legislation to allow local governments to collect federal damages if they prevail in these reckless suits (see last week's Alert).

      Call your U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative at (202) 224-3121 in support of H.R. 1032, and urge them to oppose S. 560 and any other legislation that empowers cities to file these suits.

      Also, Senator Robert Torricelli's (D-N.J.) and Representative Patrick Kennedy's (D- R.I.) bills to allow the BATF to set regulatory standards governing the design, manufacture, and "safety standards" for new firearms (see last week's Alert) have been assigned numbers -- S. 534 and H.R. 920 -- respectively. Please call your lawmakers in opposition to these bills.

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