EQUAL ACCESS FOR VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE ACT

March 26, 2018

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher,

101 Main Street #380

Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Dear Congressman,

Re: Equal Access for Victims of Gun Violence Act

I write this morning to call for your support of the Equal Access for Victims of Gun Violence Act, recently introduced in Congress.

As I understand, the intention of this bill is to repeal the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, which was passed in order to protect gun manufacturers, distributors and sellers from lawsuits that might be brought against them by victims of gun violence.

I’m astonished that such a law was passed in the first place—though perhaps I shouldn’t be. It was clearly a part of efforts by the National Rifle Association to promote the interests of the gun industry, under the guise of protecting the Second Amendment.

I have heard of no other industry—automobiles, tobacco and pharmaceuticals come readily to mind—that enjoys such protection from consumers. After the Las Vegas massacre, it seems, victims could bring lawsuits against the hotel from which the shots were fired and the concert organizers, but not against those who made, marketed and sold the weapons the gunman used.

Aside from any other considerations, the 2005 Act allows gun manufacturers to ignore even minimal safety devices, and exculpates sellers who fail to take the basic precautions about those to whom they sell not only hand guns but also military grade weapons.

The Equal Access for Victims of Gun Violence Act is an urgent necessity in the struggle to address an issue that affects so many or our citizens.

Respectfully,

Peter Clothier, Ph.D.