-Caveat Lector- http://www.miami.com/herald/content/news/local/florida/digdocs/109563.htm Bill to protect gun manufacturers clears Florida Senate BY STEVE BOUSQUET [EMAIL PROTECTED] TALLAHASSEE -- The Senate passed a bill Thursday to block cities and counties from suing firearms manufacturers to seek damages on behalf of gunshot victims, as Miami-Dade has done without success. The Senate vote was 27-12 and all 12 senators voting no were Democrats, most of them from Miami-Dade and Broward. The bill's sponsor is Sen. Charlie Bronson, R-Indian Harbour Beach, who is running for state agriculture commissioner in 2002. ``They're using taxpayer dollars to file these lawsuits because there are individuals in this state who don't like the idea of someone owning a firearm,'' said Bronson, a rancher and a longtime ally of gun owners. ``I think it's time we quit blaming instruments for the cause of crimes in this state and blame the people who commit these crimes.'' He said opponents misrepresented the bill's contents by claiming that the measure declares the use of guns to be safe. He noted that the bill (SB 412) says that the ``manufacture, distribution or sale'' of guns and bullets by licensed dealers ``is a lawful activity and is not unreasonably dangerous.'' The debate and the lobbying for it by the National Rifle Association shifts to the House, where passage is likely. NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer said action is needed to stop elected officials from copying Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas and spending tax money on groundless lawsuits with a goal of driving gun makers into bankruptcy. ``This legislation corrects a wrong,'' Hammer said. ``Miami-Dade is intentionally attempting to drain gun manufacturers of their financial resources by dragging this out in court when two courts have clearly said they had no right to do it.'' A circuit judge and an appeals court have dismissed Miami-Dade's lawsuit, saying the county has no legal standing to sue gun makers.. The county's latest appeal is now before the Florida Supreme Court, but Bronson's bill does not affect ongoing litigation. Sen. Ron Silver, D-North Miami Beach, an opponent, said the bill creates a ``very dangerous precedent'' by restricting elected officials' access to the court system. ``What this bill does is prohibit our governmental entities -- the people's representatives -- from bringing an action where they believe a wrong has been committed. That, to me, seems to be saying we have elected the wrong people to office,'' Silver said. ``We're saying the people don't know what they're doing when they elect us to office, and I reject that.'' Besides Silver, voting no were Sens. Skip Campbell of Coral Springs, Mandy Dawson of Fort Lauderdale, Buddy Dyer of Orlando, Steve Geller of Hallandale Beach, Betty Holzendorf of Jacksonville, Daryl Jones of Miami, Ron Klein of Delray Beach, Kendrick Meek of Miami, Les Miller of Tampa, Tom Rossin of West Palm Beach and Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston. ``This is about the gun manufacturers getting some special dispensation from the Legislature not to be sued by the government,'' Klein said. ``That's ridiculous, and it's wrong.'' ``This bill says guns are safe. No gun is safe in the hands of anyone. It's a weapon. It's designed to kill,'' said Sen. Betty Holzendorf, D-Jacksonville. ``We're encouraging everyone in the state of Florida to be armed. . . . I know the gun lobbyists are tough, but we ought to be tougher.'' <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance�not soap-boxing�please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'�with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds�is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html <A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html">Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]</A> http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ <A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/">ctrl</A> ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
