Gary Hart: “It is clear that if a gun dealer sells a gun to someone who is a known criminal, that gun dealer would be liable under…”

“It is clear that if a gun dealer sells a gun to someone who is a known criminal, that gun dealer would be liable under the bill. This amendment is, therefore, not necessary. All of the frivolous lawsuits filed, however, have been under some type of general negligence theory. Many activists claim that manufacturers are negligent for not requiring extraordinarily burdensome and counterproductive schemes in addition to existing legal requirements. These activists may claim that any gun designed to suit the needs of gun buyers or the rules enacted by legislatures in our democracy, rather than their own policy preferences, is a sign of negligence. Some activists even claim that when the industry is successful in selling firearms in a specific region they are guilty of negligent oversupply and should reduce sales. This bill is narrowly tailored to block these junk lawsuits while allowing legitimate causes of action, such as the gentleman described, to move forward.”