Gun Manufacturers Attract Lawsuits

Re “High Court Clears Way for Gun Suit,” Jan. 11: I can sympathize with the families [of shooting victims] for their loss; however, it is not the fault of the gun manufacturers that Buford O. Furrow Jr. committed these crimes. People are always trying to get something from their loss, even if it means suing a company for the product it produces. While they’re at it, why don’t they sue the bullet makers for the crimes? Better yet, what about suing the carmakers for the drunk drivers who kill innocent people every day, or the makers of the alcohol the drunk driver consumes?

I know that guns are a problem in the country when they’re in the wrong hands. But suing a gun manufacturer is not going to solve anything; it will only keep the courts busy with sue-happy people. People have tried for so long and will keep trying to have full gun control in this country. I hate it when people feel they have to make decisions for the rest of us.

Theresa Cordova

Los Angeles

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Why sue a company for the use of its products? The truth is, in the U.S., we hold companies liable every day for their products. We have created governmental agencies that require and enforce standards for every product we consume: every one except for guns. We have product warnings on medicine, mattresses and machinery. We license drivers and dogs.

Each year in this country approximately 30,000 people are killed by firearms, and about three to four times that many people are injured. Costs associated with gun violence are staggering and are a serious public health issue.

Guns are not consumable items; unlike toilet paper, doughnuts or peanut butter, we don’t need to replenish our stock of firearms on a regular basis. When gun manufacturers intentionally produce an overabundance of product, they know they are winding up in the hands of criminals. Gun manufacturers should be held liable for the distribution of their products. Hopefully with the Supreme Court’s decision, they will be.

Roberta G. Schiller

Board Member, Women

Against Gun Violence

Los Angeles