Seeker of Truth
05-25-2003, 03:49 AM
Jury: Gun Industry Not Cause of Violence
May 14, 3:46 PM (ET)
By TOM HAYS
NEW YORK (AP) - In a victory for the gun industry, a jury found Wednesday that 45 handgun manufacturers and distributors were not responsible for fueling violence in minority communities through their marketing practices.
The jury deliberated for five days before reaching its verdict in a closely watched case that now goes to the judge for a final decision. The panel was unable to reach a verdict regarding 23 other defendants in the case.
Because U.S. District Judge Jack Weinstein decided the jury would play only an advisory role, both sides in the case will submit written arguments interpreting the verdict within 30 days. The judge will then make the final determination on liability and remedy.
The verdict followed more than five weeks of testimony in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's lawsuit against 68 defendants, including Smith & Wesson Corp., Glock Inc. and other major gun makers and distributors.
The jury found Glock and Colt Manufacturing - two major gun makers - not liable. It did not reach a decision on Smith & Wesson.
The NAACP lawsuit alleged the firearms industry knew corrupt dealers were supplying their products to criminals in minority communities, and did nothing to stop it. Rather than monetary damages, it sought to force distributors to restrict sales to dealers who have storefront outlets, prohibit sales to gun show dealers and limit individual purchasers to one handgun a month.
The defendants and industry trade groups argued that it was unfair and unlawful to hold manufacturers liable for the criminal use of a legal product. They also said that legislatures - not courts - should set standards for sales.
Source - apnews.excite.com (http://apnews.excite.com/article/20030514/D7R19PV00.html)
May 14, 3:46 PM (ET)
By TOM HAYS
NEW YORK (AP) - In a victory for the gun industry, a jury found Wednesday that 45 handgun manufacturers and distributors were not responsible for fueling violence in minority communities through their marketing practices.
The jury deliberated for five days before reaching its verdict in a closely watched case that now goes to the judge for a final decision. The panel was unable to reach a verdict regarding 23 other defendants in the case.
Because U.S. District Judge Jack Weinstein decided the jury would play only an advisory role, both sides in the case will submit written arguments interpreting the verdict within 30 days. The judge will then make the final determination on liability and remedy.
The verdict followed more than five weeks of testimony in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People's lawsuit against 68 defendants, including Smith & Wesson Corp., Glock Inc. and other major gun makers and distributors.
The jury found Glock and Colt Manufacturing - two major gun makers - not liable. It did not reach a decision on Smith & Wesson.
The NAACP lawsuit alleged the firearms industry knew corrupt dealers were supplying their products to criminals in minority communities, and did nothing to stop it. Rather than monetary damages, it sought to force distributors to restrict sales to dealers who have storefront outlets, prohibit sales to gun show dealers and limit individual purchasers to one handgun a month.
The defendants and industry trade groups argued that it was unfair and unlawful to hold manufacturers liable for the criminal use of a legal product. They also said that legislatures - not courts - should set standards for sales.
Source - apnews.excite.com (http://apnews.excite.com/article/20030514/D7R19PV00.html)