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Cuomo Says Bush's Silence Holds Up Talks With Gun Companies
Washington, May 8 aol://4344:30.bloombrg.389091.602536905 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo said gun
manufacturers have stopped negotiating with the government to settle a
liability lawsuit because they think Republican candidate George W. Bush
would seek immunity for them if he's elected president.
Cuomo called on Bush to say whether he would seek legislation to bar the
government from suing gun manufacturers.
``It is unacceptable to dodge a clear answer here,'' Cuomo said. ``The stakes
are too high to play politics with this issue.''
Bush wouldn't say last week whether he would support immunity for gun
manufacturers because he hasn't seen specific legislation on the issue, said
Scott McClellan, a campaign spokesman. In Texas, Governor Bush approved
legislation allowing the state attorney general to pursue lawsuits, a
``reasonable and balanced approach,'' McClellan said.
Cuomo's salvo comes as President Bill Clinton is making gun control a
priority for his final year in office. So far, his administration has
persuaded one gun manufacturer, Smith & Wesson, to adopt gun safety standards
to avoid federal and state lawsuits.
Smith & Wesson, a division of London-based Tomkins Plc, agreed to put hidden
serial numbers and locks on its guns in return for being dropped from a HUD
lawsuit against gun manufacturers based on the number of gun crimes in the
agency's public housing projects.
Cuomo, who was joined in a teleconference with Connecticut Attoney General
Richard Blumenthal and Los Angeles City Attorney James Hahn, said the March
settlement shows there can be a workable code of conduct for gun
manufacturers.
Glock GmbH and six other gun manufacturers have rejected the code and filed a
suit challenging a plan by the administration and large U.S. cities to favor
weapons-makers that adopt the standards when buying firearms for police.
Bush's stance on gun company liability makes no difference in what the
firearms industry does, said one gun industry group.
``This industry has absolutely no intention in meeting with Mr. Cuomo and his
cronies,'' said Robert Delfay, president of the National Shooting Sports
Foundation. ``They lack credibility and sincerity that we would require in a
discussion.''
Delfay said it was Cuomo who broke off negotiations in late January and then
made agreement with Smith & Wesson.
May/08/2000 14:25 GMT
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"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" RKBA!
________________________________________
Cuomo Says Bush's Silence Holds Up Talks With Gun Companies
Washington, May 8 aol://4344:30.bloombrg.389091.602536905 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo said gun
manufacturers have stopped negotiating with the government to settle a
liability lawsuit because they think Republican candidate George W. Bush
would seek immunity for them if he's elected president.
Cuomo called on Bush to say whether he would seek legislation to bar the
government from suing gun manufacturers.
``It is unacceptable to dodge a clear answer here,'' Cuomo said. ``The stakes
are too high to play politics with this issue.''
Bush wouldn't say last week whether he would support immunity for gun
manufacturers because he hasn't seen specific legislation on the issue, said
Scott McClellan, a campaign spokesman. In Texas, Governor Bush approved
legislation allowing the state attorney general to pursue lawsuits, a
``reasonable and balanced approach,'' McClellan said.
Cuomo's salvo comes as President Bill Clinton is making gun control a
priority for his final year in office. So far, his administration has
persuaded one gun manufacturer, Smith & Wesson, to adopt gun safety standards
to avoid federal and state lawsuits.
Smith & Wesson, a division of London-based Tomkins Plc, agreed to put hidden
serial numbers and locks on its guns in return for being dropped from a HUD
lawsuit against gun manufacturers based on the number of gun crimes in the
agency's public housing projects.
Cuomo, who was joined in a teleconference with Connecticut Attoney General
Richard Blumenthal and Los Angeles City Attorney James Hahn, said the March
settlement shows there can be a workable code of conduct for gun
manufacturers.
Glock GmbH and six other gun manufacturers have rejected the code and filed a
suit challenging a plan by the administration and large U.S. cities to favor
weapons-makers that adopt the standards when buying firearms for police.
Bush's stance on gun company liability makes no difference in what the
firearms industry does, said one gun industry group.
``This industry has absolutely no intention in meeting with Mr. Cuomo and his
cronies,'' said Robert Delfay, president of the National Shooting Sports
Foundation. ``They lack credibility and sincerity that we would require in a
discussion.''
Delfay said it was Cuomo who broke off negotiations in late January and then
made agreement with Smith & Wesson.
May/08/2000 14:25 GMT
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"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" RKBA!
