Responsible Firearms Ownership 

$$  GUN SUIT UPDATE  $$

Here we go again.  So much for Smith and Wesson’s (S&W) much debated ransom payment to avoid further litigation in the courts.  When its British owners quickly gave in to the demands of the Clinton administration and signed onto the ‘agreement’, S&W was criticized, boycotted, and eventually sold to an American corporation.  With its image temporarily restored orders once again began coming in.  The Safety-Hammer Corporation, now known as the Smith and Wesson Holding Company (stock symbol SMWS.OB), has seen its stock more than double in price in recent weeks.  Could this be the reason behind the following news story?

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- March 28, 2002

Jersey City will become the latest municipality to sue
gun manufacturers, claiming they sell lots of
weapons in states with lax gun laws and know the
guns will be used to commit crimes elsewhere.

The suit is expected to be filed in Superior
Court in Hudson County Thursday morning.
It names gun manufacturers including Smith
& Wesson Corp., Beretta USA Corp., Glock
Corp. and Colt Manufacturing Corp. as
defendants.

"This is aimed more at getting the industry to
change its practices rather than at any
monetary gain for the city," said Bill Ayala,
Mayor Glenn Cunningham's chief of staff.
"They flood areas with lax gun control laws
with weapons, knowing the guns will end up
in states with tougher gun control laws, like
New Jersey.

No monetary gain?  I bet.  Why don’t these cities just sue each other?  Sheesh!  If City A has discriminatory laws that prohibit gun sales and City B does not, which of the cities is more likely to have more legal gun sales?  If you manufacture widgets would you be more likely to establish dealerships in areas that ban widget sales or in areas that welcome widgets?  It doesn’t require a degree in Marketing to answer.  Hello Jersey City!  Wake up and join mainstream America - if it weren't for YOUR discriminatory laws YOUR residents wouldn't be traveling elsewhere to spend their money.  Think of the sales tax loss incurred, Mayor.  Oh, right, it's not about money.  Never is.

A nonprofit group, the Brady Center to
Prevent Gun Violence, will provide legal
representation to the city. The suit seeks
monetary damages for costs associated with
police and emergency services as well as
health care for those affected by gun
violence.

Oops, monetary damages.  The former Handgun Control Inc., now reverently known for its founder Sarah Brady (activist, author, and buyer of 30-06 rifles), will eagerly join Jersey City’s Mayor in another extortion attempt.  In other words, for the right amount of money they can be bought off temporarily.  But this isn’t about money, remember?

Since 1998, 33 municipalities, counties and
states -- including Newark, New York City,
Camden and Los Angeles -- have filed suits
against gun makers.

But it is far from certain that Jersey City will
prevail. On Wednesday, Boston became the
first city in the nation to voluntarily drop its
lawsuit against the gun industry. Mayor
Thomas M. Menino and the city's health
commission said going to trial was too
expensive, especially during a weak
economy. (Read the REAL reason's for
dropping the suit  here.)

Ok, so it is about money.  Or not.  Yes it is – no it’s not!  I guess it depends on who has it and who wants it.

Cases filed by Philadelphia, Chicago,
Miami-Dade County, Fla., New York State
and Camden County, N.J., have been
dismissed.

Well darn.  But, Jersey City is different.  They don’t want money, not really.  Well, maybe kinda. "This is aimed more at getting the industry to change its practices rather than at any monetary gain for the city," said Bill Ayala, Mayor Glenn Cunningham's chief of staff.  The practice, as the Mayor's chief of staff so eloquently calls it, is engaging in legal business in geographic areas where such business is entirely legal and none of Jersey City's concern.  Strictly speaking, Jersey City's beef is with other cities that don't practice their form of discrimination.  How would that sound in a lawsuit?

Highlighted text from Associated Press 3-28-02.