Glad to see that there is someone who realizes that inaimate lifeless objects don’t commit crimes….

Victims Can’t Sue Weapons Makers

http://news.excite.com/news/ap/010806/13/news-gun-suit

Updated: Mon, Aug 06 1:18 PM EDT
By DAVID KRAVETS, Associated Press Writer
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) – Victims cannot sue weapons manufacturers for
damages when criminals use their products illegally, the California
Supreme Court ruled Monday in a closely watched case testing gunmaker
liability.

The high court’s decision – whether a gun manufacturer can be sued on
allegations it was partly responsible for a criminal shooting – stems
from a 1993 massacre of eight in a San Francisco law office
skyscraper.

The justices kept in step with other courts in insulating gunmakers
from liability. Every state high court and federal appellate court in
the nation to consider such suits against gun manufacturers has ruled
that makers of legal, non-defective guns cannot be sued for their
criminal misuse.

The court ruled 5-1 that the Legislature’s rules regarding product
liability do not allow for such suits against gun manufacturers.

“In reaching this conclusion, we are not insensitive to the terrible
tragedy that occurred on July 1, 1993,” Justice Ming W. Chin wrote.
“The Legislature has set California’s public policy regarding gun
manufacturers liability under these circumstances. Given that public
policy, plaintiffs may not proceed with their negligence claim.”

Monday’s decision was an important victory for weapons manufacturers
and Navegar Inc., the maker of the weapon used in the skyscraper
massacre. The justices overturned a California lower court decision
that was the nation’s only state appellate ruling allowing victims to
sue a gun manufacturer for someone’s criminal acts.

Surviving victims of the skyscraper rampage claimed that Navegar was
liable for damages because it marketed the TEC-DC9 to appeal to
criminals, and that Navegar should have foreseen that it would be used
in a massacre.