Boston Drops Lawsuit Against Gun Industry, Cites Financial Concerns

Josey1

Boston Drops Lawsuit Against Gun Industry, Cites Financial ConcernsBy Ken Maguire Associated Press Writer Published: Mar 27, 2002 BOSTON (AP) - The city of Boston, citing financial concerns and improved weapon safety measures, dropped its lawsuit against the gun industry Wednesday. The city sued gun manufacturers, distributors and trade groups in June 1999, alleging they were responsible for gun violence, seeking. The suit sought to recover the costs of gun-related violence. Sixteen similar suits are pending involving 25 other cities. Boston's case was expected to be the first to go to trial, in September. Mayor Thomas M. Menino said the suit was withdrawn after both sides agreed to a resolution that calls for the industry to devote more resources to combating gun violence in Boston. He also said going to trial was too expensive. According to the city's top health official, John Auerbach, the city was spending $30,000 per month during the discovery phase of the case. He could not give the total amount spent. "Under extreme pressure from our suit and others like it, the industry is starting to take small steps to address our concerns of safety and education," the mayor said. "We're not there yet, but it's a move in the right direction." The mayor cited new state regulations that mandate all firearms meet minimum design and safety standards, and the gun industry's decision to include free locking devices with each firearm. Dennis Henigan, legal director of the Washington-based Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, which helps litigate the suits, said no other city has voluntarily dropped its suit. "It is a very sad day, but I think Boston is encouraging other cities to carry on, and we think they will," he said Wednesday. There have been 21 similar suits in recent years, Henigan said. Courts have dismissed cases brought by New Orleans, Miami, Bridgeport, Conn., and Camden County, N.J. Five other suits have been dismissed, but are being appealed, he said. Jersey City, N.J., planned to sue the industry on Thursday, Henigan said. Boston's suit named 31 defendants, including manufacturers Taurus International and Glock. Gun rights proponents applauded Wednesday's decision to drop the case. "It indicates they should have never brought the lawsuit to begin with," said James Baker, the National Rifle Association's chief lobbyist. "It's a lesson that other cities ought to take. Criminals are responsible for their own actions, not manufacturers of legal products." Spokespersons for Glock and Taurus International could not be reached for comment after business hours Thursday. There were 28,874 gun-related deaths in the United States in 1999, the most recent statistics available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. AP-ES-03-27-02 2044EST http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGAHFW6YBZC.html

competentone

Somebody (specifically, the victims of crime in these cities) should be sueing the cities themselves--the crime in the city is a clear example of a failure by the Police Departments in these cities.Crime victims, in their class action suit, could cite the "response times" for the police as evidence for the failure on the part of the city government.

Submariner .

I HEARD THE COUNSEL FOR THE CITY EXPLAINING THAT THE SUIT WAS GONNA COST TOO MUCH AND THAT GUN MAKERS HAD IMPROVED?????HOW??AS IF THEY HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT TO BEGIN WITH.I THINK BOSTON DID NOT WANT A COURT RULING THAT THIS WAS A FRIVOLOUS LAWSUIT AND THEREBY CREATING THE IMPRESSION THAT THE GUNS WERE NOT AT FAULT AMONGST THE VOTERS IN THAT AREA.IN OTHER WORDS THEY DROPPED THE SUIT BECAUSE IF THEY LOST THE PEOPLE MIGHT ACTUALLY SEE THAT THE GUNS ARE NOT THE PROBLEM AND WOULD TAKE ACTION TO RESTORE THE RIGHTS THAT THE MASS BUNCH HAVE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM

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