[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 59 (Friday, April 11, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               PROTECTION OF LAWFUL COMMERCE IN ARMS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 9, 2003

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the hill--(H.R. 1036) to 
     prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or 
     continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or 
     importers of firearms or ammunition for damages resulting 
     from the misuse of their products by others:

  Mr. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 
1036, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. This bill unfairly 
grants the gun industry immunity and takes away an individual's or 
state's ability to hold gun manufacturers, gun dealers, and gun trade 
associations accountable to negligence and product liability standards 
that every other industry is subject to.
  The bill perpetuates the gun industry's disregard for public safety 
and holds up their ``see-no-evil, hear-no-evil, speak-no-evil'' 
approach to gun manufacturing and distribution. The gun industry should 
be held accountable to its consumers and victims in the same way that 
every other industry is. As it is, guns are one of the few consumer 
products that are exempt from health and safety regulations.
  Furthermore, this bill would void a number of pending cases around 
the country which seek to hold the gun industry accountable for its 
actions. Specifically, if passed into law, this bill would nullify a 
case currently moving through the Illinois Supreme Court. The case was 
brought against a number of gun manufacturers, gun distributors, and 
gun dealers by the City of Chicago and Cook County who allege that 
these entities have created a public nuisance by making guns available 
to juveniles in the Chicago area. No one can dispute that kids have 
access to guns. A nationwide survey conducted by the Illinois based 
Teenage Research Unlimited found that 41 percent of teenagers surveyed 
reported that they could get a handgun if they really wanted to. 
Furthermore, the Chicago Police Department reported that, in 1999, 165 
offenders under the age of 21 were charged with murders involving a 
firearm.
  One death by a handgun is too many. But when 666 people are murdered 
in one year in just one city, as was the case in Chicago in 2001, we 
must wake up to reality and demand that something be done. 
Unfortunately, this bill takes us backwards and gives immunity to the 
very industry that has the power to regulate the manufacturing and 
distribution of its products.
  I am disappointed that this bill is on the House floor today, and I 
urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 1036.

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