Put the safety on
Lawyers for Beretta, Hornaday, Sig Sauer, Smith & Wesson and Sturm, Ruger & Company misfired in federal court, as a federal judge Wednesday dismissed their challenge to a state law allowing civil lawsuits against firearm manufacturers whose negligence endangers public safety. Hurrah. The wise statute, drafted by state Sen. Zellnor Myrie and signed by Gov. Cuomo last summer, allows civil actions against any firearm company on the grounds that its actions recklessly endanger the public or fail to put in place reasonable controls against illegal gun marketing, sales and possession. It was inspired by the aggressive use of a Connecticut consumer protection law barring irresponsible marketing, which yielded a $73 million settlement by Sandy Hook family members against Remington in February.
No can do, said the manufacturers, because a 2005 federal liability shield gives the industry impenetrable immunity. Able arguments by Attorney General Tish James’ lawyers demolished that contention, as well as the claim that the state law is unconstitutionally vague.
As New York Democrats looking to stanch the escalating bloodshed keep pounding, while pressuring a criminally negligent Congress to at the very least act on low-hanging measures that 90% of the American public supports, Republicans vying to lead our state stand with their fellow partisans in Washington, to whom fealty to supposedly limitless Second Amendment rights is a suicide pact.
Front-running GOP gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin reacted to the massacre of 19 fourth-graders and two teachers by tweeting boilerplate expressions of shock and sadness. Andrew Giuliani, falling far from the tree of a dad who once had the guts to champion gun control, called for prayers. Businessman Harry Wilson called the tragedy “unacceptable” without saying what he would do. Former Westchester Executive Rob Astorino at least called for “enhanced background checks.”
This is the best they can do? In Zeldin’s case, we know that — ignoring the fact that New York simultaneously has the nation’s strongest gun laws and, not coincidentally, among the lowest firearm death rates — he wants far more permissive gun laws, including an end to red-flag laws. Everyone else: Say clearly what you believe.