As Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders continue to trade blows over who is more equipped to supposedly deliver a knockout punch to the firearms industry, the former vice president has zeroed in on the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) — the law preventing frivolous lawsuits that seek to blame members of the firearms industry for the criminal misuse of legal, lawfully sold, non-defective firearms.
Biden is swinging wide to do this, making wild and false claims. Before the debate in South Carolina, he told the state’s gun manufacturers, “I’m coming for you, and I’m taking you down.” He liked the tough talk enough that he reiterated from the debate stage, “And I want to tell you, if I’m elected . . . gun manufacturers, I’m going to take you on and I’m going to beat you.”
Biden’s end goal is ultimately to repeal the 2005 PLCAA. This law, passed with overwhelming bipartisan support and signed by President George W. Bush, ended the politically driven lawsuits aimed at bankrupting the firearms industry. Biden and Sanders want to revive the tactic as they pursue the White House, and they’re using disproven and false claims to make their case.
The PLCAA stopped a series of “public nuisance” lawsuits by activist mayors in big cities against firearms manufacturers over the crimes committed by individuals. That law doesn’t grant immunity, but it prevents others from shifting the blame from criminals to a manufacturer. The firearms manufacturer is no more liable for the crime committed by an individual than Home Depot would be if someone committed murder with a hammer. The PLCAA does nothing more than defend an industry that has been targeted by a series of baseless, politically motivated lawsuits.
Yet Biden still falsely claims that this gives firearms manufacturers blanket immunity. Both manufacturers and firearms retailers can be, and are, held responsible for harm caused by defective products, breach of contract, criminal misconduct, or other actions for which they are directly responsible, the same as any other product manufacturer.
Jonathan Turley, the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University, underscored this when he wrote, in an op-ed for The Hill, “Product liability and tort actions against manufacturers have uniformly and correctly been rejected by the courts. Guns are lawful products, and holding companies liable for later misuse of such products is absurd. You might as well sue an axe manufacturer for the Lizzy Borden murders.”
Biden claims, as Hillary Clinton falsely tried to claim before him in 2016, that these protections are unique. In fact, manufacturers of medical devices, the airline industries, and even online service and content providers are protected from frivolous lawsuits when defamatory information is posted by others. Biden attacks the PLCAA knowing full well that individuals who commit crimes are responsible for them. His argument is just a façade for gun control that he can’t achieve through legislation.
The sad part is that Biden chose to attack an industry that has grown 171 percent since 2008 and currently employs more than 312,000 Americans from all walks of life in communities across the nation. He’s coming after firearms manufacturers that paid $6.8 billion in total taxes and had a total economic impact of more than $52 billion.
Reprinted with Permission from - National Review by - Lawrence G. Keane
Joe Biden doesn’t know where he is most of the time and furthermore he even said he’s running for governor. His best traits are…well I’m thinking…he doesn’t have any. A true snake a/k/a democrat. They all need to be put on a sinking ship in the middle of a hurricane.
Biden is a lot of bluff and fluff. I remember his words about home protection: “Get a shotgun. Fire it out the window.” Yeah, great idea. He doesn’t know what day it is, what state he is in and where his wife is. He thinks that he just has to show his pearly whites and all his gaffes will be forgotten. God, jus think of how he would have handled the Corona pandemic.
Can’t put any faith in what a guy who doesn’t know where he is has to say about anything. That being said, I notice that the Dems. are becoming more desperate in thinking that Andrew Cuomo may be the man to beat Trump in the next Pres. election.
Cuomo can’t run NYS properly, let alone the United States.
Recently Biden said that he had advised his wife that.if she that someone was about to break into their home, she should take a shotgun and fire it into the air to frighten them off. I wonder if he will turn that shotgun in if he wins the election?
There is no better Fool than JOE BIDEN or perhaps BURNIE surpasses the. Mark!!!!!!
Biden, you didn’t do anything for us for 40 years! I saw your disgusting faces at Palin during your debate. Move over and let some one who actually cares about our country be in charge! Smile all you want. We see what you’re really like.
Yup, Sleepy Joe, guns pull their own triggers. With luck, you’ll be facing one of them…..
From my cold dead hands
If Biden is able to outlaw guns the only people with guns will be the police, the military and criminals.
Can someone explain to me how a candidate, who must take an oath of office to uphold and protect the constitution of the United States, can openly state he will vigorously oppose the second amendment if elected?
If Joe Biden is the most intelligent democrat in the world then this will be the end of the COMMUNEST LIBERAL Democrat party! I’m surprised that Biden is still alive because he isn’t smart enough to remember to breathe!
Biden on debate stage: “Uh, why am I here and what am I running for again?”
Simply: Joe Biden is an Idiot ! and this makes him dangerous to Good Americans
After hearing your comment, Biden sez– “You wanna step outside?!” LOL
Joe says….”Firearms? Fire Arms”??? Who would want their arms on fire!!!! That’s gotta hurt!!!! C’MON MANNNNNNN!!!!
Does”sloppy joe”even know what country he is in much les who manufacture weapons.
Don’t you get it yet? The Progressive-Socialists will say or do ANYTHING to grab more power, and/or keep their cushy jobs.
Contradictions, hypocrisy, or out-and-out lies don’t matter to them. It’s the end justifying the means, as far as they are concerned.
Creepy uncle Joe just gets crazier and crazier! Trump has had to take crap from these democrat idiots since he was elected, but he stands and fights for America no matter what, and he speaks his mind! That’s the kind of MAN I want for president!
The manufacturers have to fight back ! Biden lose’s the case court costs and fees are paid by the government . Counter with harassment lawsuits . Make it very costly . All else give Uncle Joe five minutes and he will forget .
With a history of 40 years in government, Joe is a card-carrying member of the swamp. Joe has drifted over to the extreme left to satisfy the squad and the loony tune fringe. I know I’m preaching to the choir here, but it should be obvious that the MSM is not going to reveal any Biden corruption. Hunter is just the tip of the iceberg.