Gun Maker Davis Seeks Bankruptcy Protection

A California gun manufacturer filed for bankruptcy protection after being named as a defendant in lawsuits by cities across the country seeking to recoup the costs of gun-related crime and violence. Davis Industries, a Chino-based company known for producing small, cheap handguns, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May, court records show. A call seeking comment from Davis Industries was not returned. More than a dozen companies have been named in lawsuits, including well-known gun makers such as Smith & Wesson, Colt and Glock. The cities, including Los Angeles, Chicago and New Orleans, are accusing gun makers of failing to equip weapons with adequate safety devices, and marketing them in ways that allow guns to be acquired by criminals. The suits are patterned after those that forced cigarette makers to reimburse states for the public health costs of treating tobacco-related illnesses.