Angie Craig: “I thank the Senator. Exhibit 1 Beretta U.S.A. Corp., Beretta Drive, Accokeek, MD, May 11, 2005. Hon. Richard B. Cheney…”

“I thank the Senator. Exhibit 1 Beretta U.S.A. Corp., Beretta Drive, Accokeek, MD, May 11, 2005. Hon. Richard B. Cheney, Vice President of the United States, Eisenhower Executive Office Building, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Vice President: A few weeks ago, the Washington, D.C. Court of Appeals issued a decision supporting a D.C. statute that holds the manufacturers of semiautomatic pistols and rifles strictly liable for any crime committed in the District with such a firearm. Passed in 1991, the D.C. statute had not been used until the District of Columbia recently filed a lawsuit against the firearm industry in an attempt to hold firearm makers, importers and distributors liable for the cost of criminal gun misuse in the District. Although the Court of Appeals (sitting en banc in the case D.C. v. Beretta U.S.A. et al.) dismissed many parts of the case, it affirmed the D.C. strict liability statute and, moreover, ruled that victims of gun violence can sue firearm manufacturers simply to determine whether that company's firearm was used in the victim's shooting. It is unlawful to possess most firearms in the District (including semiautomatic pistols) and it is unlawful to assault someone using a firearm. Notwithstanding these two criminal acts, neither of which are within the control of or can be prevented by firearm makers, the D.C. strict liability statute (and the D.C.…”