Gun Liability Shield Or Defense Bill?

The Republican-led Congress changed their priorities this afternoon. With a $491 billion defense bill on the table, Bill Frist used a technical maneuver to halt debate on it and moved to the gun legislation. As a result, Senate lawmakers made sure gun dealers and manufacturers are shielded from lawsuits before our troops have the funding necessary for the Iraq Invasion.

With two days left in this session, the Senate may not have enough time to debate and vote on both bills before they leave for a monthlong vacation.

It's just another way the Bush Administration supports our corporations before our troops.

Senate Republicans move to shield gun makers, dealers from lawsuits
By Laurie Kellman
ASSOCIATED PRESS

7:52 p.m. July 26, 2005

WASHINGTON – Senate Republicans on Tuesday moved the National Rifle Association's top priority ahead of a $491 billion defense bill, setting up a vote on legislation to shield firearms manufacturers and dealers from lawsuits over gun crimes.

Completion of the defense bill, which the Senate had been debating for a week, will now be delayed until fall. Democrats were incensed.

"What's happening on this gun liability bill is really despicable," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif. "To put that ahead of the defense bill, I think, is the most distorted priorities I can possibly conceive of."

On a 66-32 test vote, sponsors of the gun bill showed they have more than enough support to prevent opponents from defeating it with a filibuster.

Click here to read the entire article from The San Diego Union-Tribune