Violence Policy Center Hails Senate Defeat of Immunity Bill, Urges Congress to Focus on Passing Effective Assault Weapons Legislation

Washington, DC�The Violence Policy Center (VPC) today hailed the Senate's resounding defeat of legislation to limit the civil liability of gun manufacturers (S. 1805). The Senate defeated the measure on a vote of 90 to 8 after amendments to require background checks at gun shows and extend the current federal assault weapons ban for 10 years were added to the bill today.

VPC Legislative Director Kristen Rand states, "The gun industry, which is already exempt from federal health and safety regulation does not deserve protection from civil liability for irresponsible business practices. Congress should focus now on passing an effective assault weapons ban. The gun industry has eviscerated the current ban, putting America's police and public at risk. According to FBI data, from 1998 through 2001 one out of five law enforcement officers slain in the line of duty was killed with an assault weapon."

For more information on the need to strengthen the federal assault weapons ban, please visit the VPC's web site at www.vpc.org.

The Violence Policy Center is a national non-profit educational foundation that conducts research on violence in America and works to develop violence-reduction policies and proposals. The Center examines the role of firearms in America, conducts research on firearms violence, and explores new ways to decrease firearm-related death and injury.