Lawmakers, Politicians at Odds on Gun Laws

Louisiana lawmakers thwarted New Orleans’ first-in-the-nation lawsuit that claims gun manufacturers should be held liable for the costs of gun-related violence. A bill preventing Louisiana cities from suing the gun industry breezed through the state Senate without fanfare or a dissenting vote. It had already passed the House, and Gov. Mike Foster said he will sign it. The measure has a retroactive clause nullifying the suit filed last fall by New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial, who claimed that gun makers should be held responsible for making a product with inadequate safety devices. Morial was unavailable for comment. He has said the legislation is unconstitutional and that he will challenge it in court. Meanwhile, the city of Boston joined the many other cities suing gun makers. Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced the lawsuit, which accuses the gun industry of “negligence, recklessness and greed,” seeks more than $100 million in damages from 31 gun makers for police, fire and medical expenses caused by gun violence and for increased security costs and declines in real estate values.