Sisco
April 24, 2003, 12:58 PM
Thought I'd share this e-mail I got this morning from Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) in reply to one I sent him.
Dear Marion:
Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding lawsuits against firearms manufacturers. I always appreciate hearing from Kansans on issues of importance to them.
As you know, the Second Amendment reads: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." I believe this provision clearly prohibits the federal government from denying citizens the right to bear arms. Many citizens choose to own a firearm for a variety of reasons: for sport, for hunting, for collecting, or for protection. I think any or all of these are just reasons.
Unfortunately, many in Congress have pushed gun control as a means to reduce crime. The Senate has voted on a number of different gun initiatives. I would like to make one point clear. I do not support restricting the rights of law abiding citizens in order to fight crime when, after all, these solutions do not produce an ounce of worthy results. I will continue to vote to support Americans' constitutional right to own a gun.
Another unfortunate situation in this country is the fact that the number of lawsuits has tripled in the last 30 years, and damage awards have mushroomed. Even worse, standards for product liability and for the award of punitive damages vary widely from state to state. Those doing business in several states are forced to play a cruel lottery, their liability exposure differing greatly depending on the state in which they may be sued. While all Americans support the right of injured parties to seek recovery for their actual losses and injuries, our legal system has been
growing out of control.
Now, the firearms industry is under attack by the trial lawyers. While in recent years there has been an attempt to legislate by using the courts, these lawsuits are nothing but end runs around the democratic process. This means of legislating is a concession of democracy. The purpose of the court system is not to legislate. Rest assured, I will oppose lawsuits which unfairly target legitimate businesses.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding this issue.
Please don't hesitate to contact me again in the future.
Sincerely,
Sam Brownback
United States Senator
Dear Marion:
Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding lawsuits against firearms manufacturers. I always appreciate hearing from Kansans on issues of importance to them.
As you know, the Second Amendment reads: "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." I believe this provision clearly prohibits the federal government from denying citizens the right to bear arms. Many citizens choose to own a firearm for a variety of reasons: for sport, for hunting, for collecting, or for protection. I think any or all of these are just reasons.
Unfortunately, many in Congress have pushed gun control as a means to reduce crime. The Senate has voted on a number of different gun initiatives. I would like to make one point clear. I do not support restricting the rights of law abiding citizens in order to fight crime when, after all, these solutions do not produce an ounce of worthy results. I will continue to vote to support Americans' constitutional right to own a gun.
Another unfortunate situation in this country is the fact that the number of lawsuits has tripled in the last 30 years, and damage awards have mushroomed. Even worse, standards for product liability and for the award of punitive damages vary widely from state to state. Those doing business in several states are forced to play a cruel lottery, their liability exposure differing greatly depending on the state in which they may be sued. While all Americans support the right of injured parties to seek recovery for their actual losses and injuries, our legal system has been
growing out of control.
Now, the firearms industry is under attack by the trial lawyers. While in recent years there has been an attempt to legislate by using the courts, these lawsuits are nothing but end runs around the democratic process. This means of legislating is a concession of democracy. The purpose of the court system is not to legislate. Rest assured, I will oppose lawsuits which unfairly target legitimate businesses.
Again, thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding this issue.
Please don't hesitate to contact me again in the future.
Sincerely,
Sam Brownback
United States Senator