The anti-gun triad of Senators Durbin (D-Ill.), Lautenberg (D-N.J.), and Schumer (D-N.Y.) have introduced a bill that seeks to empower local governments to sue the gun industry for federal damages.

      The "Gun Industry Accountability Act" defines federal damages as those associated with medical costs, lost wages, and long-term care resulting from the "sale, distribution, or misuse of a firearm." Under the bill's formula, if a local government succeeds in recovering these federal damages, it would keep a majority of the money, with a portion going to the federal government to pay for so-called crime and injury prevention programs. The bill also parrots most of the pending suits' baseless allegations that the industry "oversupplies" legal markets, and that manufacturers have been negligent in not including mechanical or electronic safety devices with their firearms.

      In a press conference yesterday announcing the bill, the Senators were joined by Dennis Henigan of the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence, who is providing legal counsel to those cities currently filing suit and others who are considering pursuing such litigation. Next week, however, Rep. Bob Barr (R- Ga.) will file federal legislation to block cities from filing these reckless and misguided suits. Stay tuned!

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