Bernie Sanders: Sandy Hook Parents Shouldn’t Be Allowed to Sue Gun Manufacturers
This is tomorrow’s front page of the New York Daily News.
I started writing this post as an excuse for Bernie Sanders, saying that Sanders wasn’t asked specifically about the Newtown massacre when he said gun manufacturers should be protected from lawsuits. I guess I didn’t want to believe he’d actually say something like this.
But then I read the full transcript of the NY Daily News interview, and yes, he really was asked specifically about that case.
Daily News: There’s a case currently waiting to be ruled on in Connecticut. The victims of the Sandy Hook massacre are looking to have the right to sue for damages the manufacturers of the weapons. Do you think that that is something that should be expanded?
Sanders: Do I think the victims of a crime with a gun should be able to sue the manufacturer, is that your question?
Daily News: Correct.
Sanders: No, I don’t.
Daily News: Let me ask you. I know we’re short on time. Two quick questions. Your website talks about…
Sanders: No, let me just…I’m sorry. In the same sense that if you’re a gun dealer and you sell me a gun and I go out and I kill him [gestures to someone in room]…. Do I think that that gun dealer should be sued for selling me a legal product that he misused? [Shakes head no.] But I do believe that gun manufacturers and gun dealers should be able to be sued when they should know that guns are going into the hands of wrong people. So if somebody walks in and says, “I’d like 10,000 rounds of ammunition,” you know, well, you might be suspicious about that. So I think there are grounds for those suits, but not if you sell me a legal product.
This is bad thinking. And it’s striking to contrast this with Sanders’ calls to break up big banks, even though they’re also selling legal products. Why does Bernie Sanders think banks need to be cracked down upon — but not companies that manufacture products intended to kill large numbers of people?