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http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cfm?section_id=40&screen=news&news_id=22143
NAACP: one of the few to take on the gun lobby
Commentary by Ron Wynn
April 21, 2003
Precious few organizations are currently willing to battle the gun lobby, but the NAACP is bucking that trend. They recently filed suit against 80 gun manufacturers and wholesalers, alleging that due to their indiscriminate distribution practices, African Americans and other minorities are experiencing a disproportionately higher number of deaths and injuries from gun violence, especially among teens.
This case is now being heard in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, with a 12-member jury ruling only in an advisory capacity since the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People isn’t seeking damages but injunctive relief. Still, there’s little doubt that the group is fighting an uphill battle.
The House of Representatives has already voted 285-140 to support legislation that would protect gun manufacturers and dealers from liability by giving them immunity from lawsuits brought by victims of gun violence as well as lawsuits brought by cities to stop the negligent distribution of guns. The bill, officially H.R. 1036/S.659, is also being supported by President Bush, who is officially on the record saying, “The manufacturer or seller of a legal, non-defective product should not be held liable for the criminal or unlawful misuse of that product by others.â€
With the administration leading the way, Senate approval and ultimate passage isn’t very far behind. Despite these sizeable obstacles, the NAACP has presented evidence in court obtained from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms they claim demonstrates that guns used to commit crimes can be traced to transactions that the industry knew beforehand would lead to illegal weapons sales.
They also introduced as an expert witness Robert A. Ricker, former executive director of the American Shooting Sports Council. Ricker was once a prominent lobbyist for the National Rifle Association. He says he had a change of attitude after he began negotiations with the Clinton administration in 1989 to make changes in gun laws aimed at weeding out corrupt dealers. Ricker alleges that the NRA disbanded his organization and eliminated his job because they are violently opposed to any gun control legislation.
“A lot of people in the industry were prepared to make changes, to even negotiate a settlement with the cities over the lawsuits,†Ricker told The New York Times April 7. “But we have Charlton Heston and Wayne LaPierre (the NRA’s top two officers) dictating to us on guns. People in the industry are scared to death of them.â€
The NRA dismisses Ricker’s testimony as the words of a disgruntled, disloyal former employee trying to get back at the organization that fired him. They also dispute his expertise and deny his testimony will carry any weight.
The NAACP also must acknowledge that not everyone, possibly not even a majority of African Americans, considers the greed of gun manufacturers the principal reason for disproportionate violence in the black community. Many other things — be they rap lyrics, video games, even kung fu movies — are mentioned ahead of prevalence of guns.
The group also must consider that individuals should take responsibility for choices they freely make, and that numerous Americans simply don’t feel safe in their homes without guns. A majority of citizens seem more than willing to accept the consequences of this society’s weapons proliferation so long as their access to guns remains unlimited.
Thus, in the end, the NAACP may not only be waging an impossible battle, but they also might discover they are not being fully supported by the constituency they are trying to help.
Ron Wynn is a City Paper staff writer.
Copyright 2003 The City Paper,LLC