Don Morgan
New member
Friday June 18 9:23 PM ET
Bush Signs Law Banning Gun Lawsuits In Texas
AUSTIN (Reuters) - Texas Gov. George W. Bush, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, signed a bill Friday banning Texas cities from suing gun makers.
Bush also released a statement saying it was wrong to blame gun violence on the manufacturers.
``Governor Bush does not believe the manufacturer of a legal product should be held responsible for the criminal misuse of that product,'' the statement issued by his office said.
Approved by the Texas legislature last month, the bill would require cities or counties to obtain legislative approval before they can sue gun producers. In most cases, Texas Attorney General John Cornyn would decide whether to sue on behalf of cities, counties or the state.
``The Texas legislature felt and Governor Bush agrees that the Attorney General ought to be the clearinghouse to review issues involving a legal product which is being misused for criminal purposes,'' Bush's statement said.
The bill effectively bans Texas cities from joining others around the country which have filed suits against gun manufacturers to recover public costs associated with gun violence. Laws aimed at thwarting such suits are currently being considered by several state legislatures.
Bush's statement said the Texas law was aimed at preventing frivolous suits, adding that legislation rather than litigation was the best way to accomplish things in a democracy.
During his first term as governor, Bush backed legislation allowing Texans to carry concealed handguns.
His pro-gun stance, which goes down well with Texas voters, has drawn criticism from political opponents in the early stages of the presidential race.
Vice President Al Gore, campaigning in Los Angeles, attacked Bush for signing the bill. ``The stakes are too high for any candidate for president to stand on the sidelines and duck this issue,'' he said.
In Washington Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives killed a bill which would have required background checks for all gun show transactions.
Democrats and moderate Republicans argued that it had been watered down so much it was no longer meaningful.
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Society is safer when the criminal does not know who is armed
Bush Signs Law Banning Gun Lawsuits In Texas
AUSTIN (Reuters) - Texas Gov. George W. Bush, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination, signed a bill Friday banning Texas cities from suing gun makers.
Bush also released a statement saying it was wrong to blame gun violence on the manufacturers.
``Governor Bush does not believe the manufacturer of a legal product should be held responsible for the criminal misuse of that product,'' the statement issued by his office said.
Approved by the Texas legislature last month, the bill would require cities or counties to obtain legislative approval before they can sue gun producers. In most cases, Texas Attorney General John Cornyn would decide whether to sue on behalf of cities, counties or the state.
``The Texas legislature felt and Governor Bush agrees that the Attorney General ought to be the clearinghouse to review issues involving a legal product which is being misused for criminal purposes,'' Bush's statement said.
The bill effectively bans Texas cities from joining others around the country which have filed suits against gun manufacturers to recover public costs associated with gun violence. Laws aimed at thwarting such suits are currently being considered by several state legislatures.
Bush's statement said the Texas law was aimed at preventing frivolous suits, adding that legislation rather than litigation was the best way to accomplish things in a democracy.
During his first term as governor, Bush backed legislation allowing Texans to carry concealed handguns.
His pro-gun stance, which goes down well with Texas voters, has drawn criticism from political opponents in the early stages of the presidential race.
Vice President Al Gore, campaigning in Los Angeles, attacked Bush for signing the bill. ``The stakes are too high for any candidate for president to stand on the sidelines and duck this issue,'' he said.
In Washington Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives killed a bill which would have required background checks for all gun show transactions.
Democrats and moderate Republicans argued that it had been watered down so much it was no longer meaningful.
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Society is safer when the criminal does not know who is armed