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To: [email protected]
Subject: From the Office of Senator Cantwell  
Date: Mon, 12 May 2003 12:30:50 -0400
     




Mr. Steve Pallas
Chehalis, Washington  98532


Dear Mr. Pallas:

Thank you for contacting me to express your views about ability to
bring lawsuits against gun manufacturers and sellers.  I appreciate hearing
from you.

As you know, on March 19, 2003, Senator Larry Craig (R-ID) introduced
the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (S.659).  This bill makes
it impossible to bring a lawsuit against a gun seller or manufacturer.  
The bill passed the House of Representatives on April 9, 2003, and I
expect that it will be voted on in the Senate later this year.

Under current law, those who make and sell guns, like every other
member of our society, are obligated to use reasonable care in designing and
selling their product, and they may be found liable for the foreseeable
consequences of their failure to do so.  For example, in West Virginia,
two police officers are suing a pawnshop that sold a pistol later used
to wound them while on duty (the gun was sold to a "straw purchaser").  
The officers' injuries were so severe that they were forced to retire.  
In our own state it has recently been revealed that since 1997, Bull's
Eye, a Tacoma gun store that was the source of the stolen rifle used in
the sniper shootings in Washington, D.C., had sold guns involved in 52
major crimes, and cannot account for over 200 guns.  This legislation
would make it impossible to file suit against similar negligent sellers.

While I do not believe that lawsuits are always the answer, I also do
not support a blanket liability exemption for any single business
sector.  I am committed to protecting Second Amendment rights, and I know
that recreational use and collection of guns for hunting, sport, and other
activities is extremely important to you and many other law-abiding
Washingtonians.  However, I also respect the ability of courts to
determine when an individual has failed to exercise reasonable care and has
negligently allowed guns to fall into the hands of criminals.  

As your Senator, you can be assured that I will work to protect the
legitimate rights of law-abiding American gun-owners, while continuing to
support responsible legislation to reduce crime and make our
communities safer.  I believe both of these goals are important and can be
simultaneously accomplished through common-sense gun laws and stricter
enforcement of existing laws. I value the input of responsible gun buyers and
sellers in forming common sense gun policy.  That is why after
consulting with the law enforcement community in Washington state, I was proud
to cosponsor and vote for a bill to allow active and retired law
enforcement officers to carry concealed weapons throughout the country.  

Again, thank you for contacting me with your views.  Please do not
hesitate to contact me in the future if I may be of further assistance.
Sincerely,

Maria Cantwell
United States Senator

Mr. Steve Pallas
Chehalis, Washington  98532


Dear Mr. Pallas:

Thank you for contacting me to express your views on gun ownership.  I
appreciate hearing your concerns about gun control and understand how
strongly you feel about the right to bear arms.

You should know that I take our Constitution very seriously.  It is a
most fundamental goal for me as your Senator to work to uphold the
rights guaranteed by our founding document.  Furthermore, I know that
recreational use and collection of guns for hunting, sport, and other
activities is extremely important to you and many other law-abiding
Washingtonians.  

Just as I am committed to protecting Second Amendment rights, I believe
you would agree with my long-standing conviction that we must keep guns
out of the hands of criminals and children.  I believe that our first
step in preventing further criminal and youth gun violence should be
stricter enforcement of responsible gun laws that punish criminal use of
firearms and that make access to guns harder for children and criminals.

As your Senator, you can be assured that I will work to protect the
legitimate rights of law-abiding American gun-owners, while continuing to
support responsible gun control legislation to reduce crime and make
our communities safer.  I believe both of these goals are important and
can be simultaneously accomplished through common-sense gun laws and
stricter enforcement of existing laws.

Again, thank you for contacting me on this important issue.  Please do
not hesitate to contact me again on this or any other issue.

Sincerely,

Maria Cantwell
United States Senator