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Sandy Hook families cannot hold gun company liable in massacre, judge rules Sandy Hook families cannot hold gun company liable in massacre, judge rules
(35 minutes later)
A Connecticut judge ruled Friday that a group of families cannot hold gun companies liable for manufacturing, distributing or selling the AR-15-style rifle used to kill 20 children and six educators at Sandy Hook elementary school in 2012. A Connecticut judge ruled on Friday that a group of families cannot hold gun companies liable for manufacturing, distributing or selling the AR-15-style rifle used to kill 20 children and six educators at Sandy Hook elementary school in 2012.
The gun companies are protected by a 2005 federal law designed to shield gun companies from liability when their products are misused by criminals, Connecticut superior court judge Barbara Bellis ruled, granting the gun companies’ motion to strike the case.The gun companies are protected by a 2005 federal law designed to shield gun companies from liability when their products are misused by criminals, Connecticut superior court judge Barbara Bellis ruled, granting the gun companies’ motion to strike the case.
Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton has pledged to repeal this 2005 law if elected. Clinton’s campaign has argued that the law “lets gun manufacturers and dealers act without consequence” and that “ending the gun industry’s legal immunity is an important step in tackling the epidemic of gun violence in this country”. The Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, has pledged to repeal this 2005 law if elected. Clinton’s campaign has argued that the law “lets gun manufacturers and dealers act without consequence” and that “ending the gun industry’s legal immunity is an important step in tackling the epidemic of gun violence in this country”.
Gun rights advocates and gun companies say the law, which protects gun companies from liability “for the harm purely caused by criminal or unlawful use of firearm products”, is common sense and shields the industry from politically motivated attacks.Gun rights advocates and gun companies say the law, which protects gun companies from liability “for the harm purely caused by criminal or unlawful use of firearm products”, is common sense and shields the industry from politically motivated attacks.
The Bushmaster XM15-E2S rifle used in the 2012 school shooting had been legally purchased by shooter Adam Lanza’s mother. Lanza shot and killed her before driving to a local elementary school and murdering dozens of people.The Bushmaster XM15-E2S rifle used in the 2012 school shooting had been legally purchased by shooter Adam Lanza’s mother. Lanza shot and killed her before driving to a local elementary school and murdering dozens of people.
Clinton championed the Sandy Hook families involved in the lawsuit earlier this year as part of a series of attacks on her then-opponent, Senator Bernie Sanders, who had voted in favor of the law. But her campaign said at the time that the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act ensured that the families’ chance of success in the case was “slim”. Clinton championed the Sandy Hook families involved in the lawsuit earlier this year as part of a series of attacks on her then opponent, Senator Bernie Sanders, who had voted in favor of the law. But her campaign said at the time that the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act ensured that the families’ chance of success in the case was “slim”.
“While the families are obviously disappointed with the judge’s decision, this is not the end of the fight. We will appeal this decision immediately and continue our work to help prevent the next Sandy Hook from happening,” Josh Koskoff, one of the lawyers representing the Sandy Hook families, said in a statement on Friday.“While the families are obviously disappointed with the judge’s decision, this is not the end of the fight. We will appeal this decision immediately and continue our work to help prevent the next Sandy Hook from happening,” Josh Koskoff, one of the lawyers representing the Sandy Hook families, said in a statement on Friday.
The defendants in the lawsuit include Bushmaster, the company that made the rifle; Camfour, a firearms distributor; and Riverview Gun Sales, the store where the gun was bought. According to court filings, Bushmaster merged into Remington Arms, which is also named in the lawsuit, in 2011. Both companies are part of the Freedom Group, which calls itself “the world’s leading innovator, designer, manufacturer and marketer of firearms”.The defendants in the lawsuit include Bushmaster, the company that made the rifle; Camfour, a firearms distributor; and Riverview Gun Sales, the store where the gun was bought. According to court filings, Bushmaster merged into Remington Arms, which is also named in the lawsuit, in 2011. Both companies are part of the Freedom Group, which calls itself “the world’s leading innovator, designer, manufacturer and marketer of firearms”.