Aid sought for laid-off gun workers
Tuesday, October 24, 2000
By WILLIAM FREEBAIRN
SPRINGFIELD — Politicians are seeking federal and state aid for Smith & Wesson employees laid off last week.
Springfield Mayor Michael J. Albano said yesterday he is seeking a grant from an emergency fund at the U.S. Department of Labor with the help of senators and congressmen. The mayor is also asking the state Department of Employment and Training's support for a retraining and placement program.
"At the very least, we owe the employees of Smith & Wesson assistance in re-training given the agreement on handgun safety that was reached by the White House, (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,) and Smith & Wesson," Albano said.
Albano and U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry blamed the National Rifle Association for contributing to the need for layoffs.
About 125 workers at the handgun maker were let go last week. The company cited falling gun sales due in part to a controversial deal it reached with local, state, and federal officials.
The deal commits Smith & Wesson to continue to make safety improvements in guns, including shipping all weapons with trigger locks and developing a handgun that can only be fired by an authorized user. It must also monitor its network of dealers and distributors for safety violations, and will require background checks for buyers of Smith & Wesson guns at gun shows.
In exchange, the governments agreed to drop Smith & Wesson from more than a dozen lawsuits filed against manufacturers seeking to recover the costs of gun violence. The cities, states and federal agencies also said they would give preference to Smith & Wesson in their gun purchases.
Kerry said the NRA has used its lobbying clout to fuel the backlash against Smith & Wesson by some gun owners. Many gun groups and individual owners have said they felt betrayed by Smith & Wesson's concessions to the government.
"Massachusetts workers are now caught in the middle of the NRA's game of ideological politics," Kerry said in a statement.
He also called on the state and federal governments to provide assistance to the workers affected.
National Rifle Association officials were not available for comment late yesterday. In the past, gun rights groups have said the backlash against Smith & Wesson has come from individuals and is not being orchestrated by the gun lobby.
Several states are reviewing the reaction for violations of anti-trust laws, but no charges have been brought. The gun companies have challenged the preference for Smith & Wesson guns as anti-competitive in a separate lawsuit.
Albano said he has enlisted the support of U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.
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Skyhawk
Tuesday, October 24, 2000
By WILLIAM FREEBAIRN
SPRINGFIELD — Politicians are seeking federal and state aid for Smith & Wesson employees laid off last week.
Springfield Mayor Michael J. Albano said yesterday he is seeking a grant from an emergency fund at the U.S. Department of Labor with the help of senators and congressmen. The mayor is also asking the state Department of Employment and Training's support for a retraining and placement program.
"At the very least, we owe the employees of Smith & Wesson assistance in re-training given the agreement on handgun safety that was reached by the White House, (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,) and Smith & Wesson," Albano said.
Albano and U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry blamed the National Rifle Association for contributing to the need for layoffs.
About 125 workers at the handgun maker were let go last week. The company cited falling gun sales due in part to a controversial deal it reached with local, state, and federal officials.
The deal commits Smith & Wesson to continue to make safety improvements in guns, including shipping all weapons with trigger locks and developing a handgun that can only be fired by an authorized user. It must also monitor its network of dealers and distributors for safety violations, and will require background checks for buyers of Smith & Wesson guns at gun shows.
In exchange, the governments agreed to drop Smith & Wesson from more than a dozen lawsuits filed against manufacturers seeking to recover the costs of gun violence. The cities, states and federal agencies also said they would give preference to Smith & Wesson in their gun purchases.
Kerry said the NRA has used its lobbying clout to fuel the backlash against Smith & Wesson by some gun owners. Many gun groups and individual owners have said they felt betrayed by Smith & Wesson's concessions to the government.
"Massachusetts workers are now caught in the middle of the NRA's game of ideological politics," Kerry said in a statement.
He also called on the state and federal governments to provide assistance to the workers affected.
National Rifle Association officials were not available for comment late yesterday. In the past, gun rights groups have said the backlash against Smith & Wesson has come from individuals and is not being orchestrated by the gun lobby.
Several states are reviewing the reaction for violations of anti-trust laws, but no charges have been brought. The gun companies have challenged the preference for Smith & Wesson guns as anti-competitive in a separate lawsuit.
Albano said he has enlisted the support of U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass.
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Skyhawk
