Boston, Smith & Wesson Settle Suit

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Boston, Smith & Wesson Settle Suit

By JUSTIN POPE
.c The Associated Press

BOSTON (AP) - Smith & Wesson, the nation's largest gunmaker, agreed Monday to set aside 2 percent of nationwide firearms sales to develop safer guns and to make it impossible for the average 5-year-old to pull the trigger of one of its weapons.

The agreement with the city of Boston mirrors one the company reached in March with the Clinton administration and some other states and cities. It promises external gun locks on new production and internal locks within two years.

Some 190 municipalities have sued gun companies in recent years seeking damages for gun violence. Smith & Wesson was dropped from many of those suits after the March agreement.

``The agreement with the Feds basically got parties speaking about these issues, and it led to us talking to the city of Boston about doing this in a specific lawsuit,'' said Smith & Wesson attorney Jeff Nelson.

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino called on other gun makers to follow Smith & Wesson's lead.

``We hope that all these companies will show the same spirit, the same commitment that Smith & Wesson has, that they will follow suit,'' Menino said.

Boston filed its lawsuit in June 1999, seeking $100 million in damages from 31 companies for gun violence.

Nelson said Smith & Wesson still faces about 30 lawsuits and hopes the agreement with Boston will encourage settlements in those cases.

The Springfield, Mass.-based company also set out training rules dealers and distributors must follow in order to sell Smith & Wesson products.

``This document is not about conditions that make it impossible to do business in the firearms industry, or to keep a legitimate purchaser from buying a handgun,'' the company said in a news release. ``It is about insuring that those that obtain Smith & Wesson firearms do so in compliance with the law.''

Most gun makers have been disinclined to settle lawsuits and some have criticized the Smith & Wesson policy, as has the National Rifle Association.

NRA spokesman Andrew Auarulanandam said the organization had no comment on the Boston agreement.

AP-NY-12-11-00 2025EST
 
make it impossible for the average 5-year-old to pull the trigger of one of its weapons.
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Yuck. How are they going to measure that? No parent will admit that their 5-year-old is "average." ;)
 
Boston Agreement.

It looks like it includes everything that was in the previous agreement.

In addition to federal, state, and local regulations relating to multiple handgun sales, {dealers agree} to adhere to the following procedures for multiple Smith & Wesson handgun sales. If a purchaser wants to purchase more than one Smith & Wesson handgun, the purchaser may take from the dealer only one Smith & Wesson handgun on the day of sale. The purchaser may take the additional Smith & Wesson handgun(s) from the dealer 14 days thereafter.
Click to expand...
Smith & Wesson must die.
 
This, for me, reaffirms my oposition (read: disgust and utter contempt) to S&W. Clearly they have no intention (probably never did) of protesting their Clinton agreement, even if GW gets into office.

They are continuing their campaign of Constitutional carnage, so a clear example needs to be made. They simply must be driven out of business.

Ken
 
What a pack of traitorous sell-outs

So much for the hope that with Schultz gone, S&W might repudiate its pact with Satan.

I guess we'll see Handguns and American Handgunner magazines write glowing reviews about this wonderful new agreement in their next issues.

S&W must die.
 
Now everyone should go back and reread the Slick&Willie story in 'Handgunner.

"2 percent of handgun sales going toward making child-proof guns"

Seems to me that's going to be a very small number.
 
And I was just about ready to forgive old S&W (actually, just going through withdrawl at not being able to buy a new 625!). But this tears it! We need to redouble the pressure on this POS company if, for no other reason, to set an example in case other gunmakers should waver and think about doing something this stupid.
 
I live in the People's Communist Republic of Massachusetts. This state is perhaps one of the most hostile towards self defense, property rights and of course 2nd amendment rights in the entire nation, including CA and NY. Usually, however, we are not that original and simply follow their lead. Our regulations usually lag theirs by a few years, so we can still count among our blessings the right to carry, own an SKS and so forth. But the noose tightens every year. That being said, this agreement should resolve any doubt in the minds of any gun owner that S&W cannot be saved. This is the same as making the deal with the devil not once, but twice. How does that saying go? 'Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me?' We must absolutely boycott this company right into bankruptcy. No argument about 'turning on one of us', or 'they were a great American company' or 'this is exactly what the antis wanted' can stand any longer. This is the endgame folks, this is the culmination of incrementalism and even if you don't live in Boston, it's coming to your state or town soon. The only way other manufacturers will not succumb to the siren song of 'compromise' and 'reasonable restrictions' is if they see S&W punished severly and mercilessly by an irate public. Anything less is a victory for the other side. This may be a 'friendly' casualty in this war, but this one loss may well save the rest.

Boycott Smith&Wesson for Life!
 
If an average 5-year old cannot pull the trigger, then how are those poor senior citizens in Palm beach who cannot even punch all the way through a ballot supposed to defend themselves with one of these firearms? (sarcasm/off)
 
Gorthaur, the measurement would be difficult so you just make the DA pull on a S&W revolver at least 20 pounds. They must also make it take at least 20 pounds to cock the hammer back to fire SA.

So much for S&W stance on proclaiming that Shultz is gone as Kirby Smith was so eager to point out in Handgun's magazine editorial.
 
It just re-affrirms my mis-trust, and hatered of o'l Slick&Willy. :barf: I have been reading the various threads based on the theme of "It's time to forgive S&W", BULL PUCKEY!!!!! NOW is the time to attack, and bring down this traitorous so-and so.
SMITH AND WESSON MUST DIE!!!!!!
 
Well, I was gonna hang on to it, but I'm going to get rid of my very old Mod. 15. Was originally a police issue, but I don't even want anything with their name on it anymore.

They should die, the lousy traitors. And "the poor, innocent employees"....

PLEASE!!!

If they want our respect, they should get the hell out of Satan's den!

They could start their own company.


And what about the dealers? How are they going to take this?

Especially this part, for the dealers:

Where available, carry liability insurance coverage of at least $1 million per incident for damage to property and for injury to or the death of any person resulting from the sale, lease, or transfer of a firearm.


Doesn't that amount to admitting they are responsible for the irresponsible actions of someone else? It would leave any dealer open to lawsuits left and right.

Not to mention jack up the cost of running their business, which in turn will force them to raise the costs on ALL of their inventory.

Smith and Wesson must die!




[Edited by iso1 on 12-13-2000 at 07:08 AM]
 
This indicates S&W hasn't reversed its position (missionary position). Boycott onward Christian soldiers!
 
Tomkins PLC Message Board Link

Here’s a link to the Tomkins PLC message board. Maybe they need to hear from some US gun owners directly how we feel about their "historic agreement".

Skyhawk
 
Says Jeff: "Gorthaur, the measurement would be difficult so you just make the DA pull on a S&W revolver at least 20 pounds. They must also make it take at least 20 pounds to cock the hammer back to fire SA."

Great; Find a crippled grandmother who needs a hair trigger, and file an ADA suit!
 
Brett I believe that is called a catch-22. Poor old S&W. That agreement is going to choke the life out of them, we all need to do our parts to be absolutely certain that all S&W dealers are in full compliance with the agreement.
 
It always bothers me when a company does something that is so perfectly stupid. Something really smells here but I just can't figure it out.
 
Everybodies all worked up about S&W. Hey, the government is going to get 2%, right? Well, whats 2% of NOTHING??? Hmmm?? Uh, ZERO! So let S&W keep pounding those nails into their own coffin. They are doing our job for us. All we have to do, is help them along a little, by continuing to boycott them.
 
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