"NEW YORK, July 21 (Reuters) - In a move that would represent a major break in the solidarity of the gun industry, two major gun makers are negotiating with the New York State Attorney General over a lawsuit he plans to file against gun manufacturers, Wednesday's New York Times reports.
The negotiations center on whether the gun makers will agree to several far-reaching concessions, including better supervision of how their guns are marketed and sold, the paper said, quoting unnamed people involved in the discussions.
Attorney General Eliot L. Spitzer, has repeatedly accused the gun industry of irresponsible marketing that has allowed firearms to fall into the hands of criminals. If the gun makers agree to concessions, Spitzer would agree to exclude the companies from the lawsuit, participants in the talks said.
The Times said the talks involved Colt's Manufacturing of Hartford, Connecticut, one of the country's oldest and best-known gun makers, and a second company that was not identified.
New York would be the first state to sue gun manufacturers, but 23 cities and counties around the nation have already done so, the Times said.
If either gun company agrees to the demands, it would be the first time a gun maker had made a concession to gun-control proposals in response to the lawsuits, the paper added.
Richard Esposito, a consultant to Colt's, was quoted as saying, ``We are not opposed to any such talks,'' but added that Colt's did not want to discuss the terms in public.
The Times said people close to Spitzer say he would prefer to avoid protracted and costly litigation with the gun industry in favor of a quick settlement that would keep guns out of the hands of criminals."
I thought the 20,000 laws we already had were designed to keep guns away from criminals. This is a bad road to go down. Once started on that path, it'll be impossible to come back.
The negotiations center on whether the gun makers will agree to several far-reaching concessions, including better supervision of how their guns are marketed and sold, the paper said, quoting unnamed people involved in the discussions.
Attorney General Eliot L. Spitzer, has repeatedly accused the gun industry of irresponsible marketing that has allowed firearms to fall into the hands of criminals. If the gun makers agree to concessions, Spitzer would agree to exclude the companies from the lawsuit, participants in the talks said.
The Times said the talks involved Colt's Manufacturing of Hartford, Connecticut, one of the country's oldest and best-known gun makers, and a second company that was not identified.
New York would be the first state to sue gun manufacturers, but 23 cities and counties around the nation have already done so, the Times said.
If either gun company agrees to the demands, it would be the first time a gun maker had made a concession to gun-control proposals in response to the lawsuits, the paper added.
Richard Esposito, a consultant to Colt's, was quoted as saying, ``We are not opposed to any such talks,'' but added that Colt's did not want to discuss the terms in public.
The Times said people close to Spitzer say he would prefer to avoid protracted and costly litigation with the gun industry in favor of a quick settlement that would keep guns out of the hands of criminals."
I thought the 20,000 laws we already had were designed to keep guns away from criminals. This is a bad road to go down. Once started on that path, it'll be impossible to come back.