As Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders celebrating his double digit win over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin the news cycle was about to change. In a meeting with the editorial board of the New York Daily News, done in their offices, he took a stand on guns that could hand Clinton the Democratic nomination. The front page story in the Daily News today showed his stance for opposing efforts by families of Sandy Hook shooting victims to sue gun manufacturers. Sanders, in an exclusive interview with the Daily News last week, said, “No, I don’t,” when asked if victims of a crime with a gun should be able to sue the manufacturer.
CLICK HERE FOR THE ENTIRE TRANSCRIPT OF THE DAILY NEWS INTERVIEW
“I was against it, and he was for it, to give immunity from liability to gunmakers and sellers,” front-runner Hillary Clinton told supporters at a campaign event at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn. “We can reverse this, and 92% of Americans and 85% of gun owners agree that we should.” The key point at issue is whether the manufacturer, distributor and seller of shooter Adam Lanza’s AR-15 assault rifle can be sued for the deaths of 20 students and six school staffers killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre. The families of the victims claim they can sue the companies because manufacturers knew the AR-15 rifle used in the Sandy Hook shooting wasn’t suitable for civilian use when it was introduced in the market.
Freedom Group, the North Carolina-based parent company of AR-15 maker Bushmaster Firearms, argues that it is protected by a 2005 federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms law that shields gun manufacturers from most lawsuits over criminal use of their products. As of right now the case is before a judge who will determine if the families can sue or if the laws on the books keep the gun manufactures safe. But as the Democratic primaries head to the East the gun issue is big and yesterday Connecticut Gov. Dan Malloy said the public doesn’t need “apologists for the NRA.” He continued to blast Sanders on twitter. Bernie is a friend, but this is really bad. Dems can’t nominate a candidate who supports gun manufacturer immunity.
Bernie is a friend, but this is really bad. Dems can’t nominate a candidate who supports gun manufacturer immunity. pic.twitter.com/JEgXQhlnAA
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) April 5, 2016
— Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) April 5, 2016
For Sanders to say that the Sandy Hook families should be barred from court, even if the weapon was negligently made, is wrong. — Chris Murphy (@ChrisMurphyCT) April 5, 2016