Cliff Stearns: “last week I spoke regarding the coerced agreement between the Federal Government and the firearms manufacturer Smith &…”

“last week I spoke regarding the coerced agreement between the Federal Government and the firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson. I would like to continue my discussion this morning by highlighting a few more quotes from those who participated in this coercion through litigation. I would like to emphasize that these are not statements that this country should be proud of, and these are not statements one will find in an official press release. John Coale, one of the trial lawyers involved in the lawsuits against firearm manufacturers was quoted in The Washington Post as saying ``the legal fees alone are enough to bankrupt your industry.'' Regarding this agreement, the New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer reportedly said to another firearms manufacturer, Glock, Incorporated, ``If you do not sign, your bankruptcy lawyers will be knocking at your door.'' On April 2, Mr. Shultz, CEO of Smith & Wesson was interviewed on the ABC news show, This Week, regarding the agreement that was reached with the Federal Government on gun control proposals. Twice, my colleagues, in this interview, he referred to the ``survival'' of his company as a primary reason behind his settlement.”