Press Release: GOA Denounces NAACP Lawsuit

Gun Owners of America Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2003
Contact: Ellie McDaniel
703-321-8585

GOA Denounces NAACP Lawsuit
– Says such suits could impact future military operations
like Operation Iraqi Freedom

(Springfield, VA) — Gun Owners of America today denounced the anti-

gun lawsuit being currently argued by the NAACP in federal court.
The suit is one of several that have been launched by anti-gun
mayors
and organizations around the country — all of which could bankrupt
gun makers who must dole out thousands upon thousands of dollars in
their own defense.

“With the U.S. troops currently fighting hostile enemies in Iraq,
the NAACP is helping to cripple the very industry that supplies our
men with their weapons,” said Erich Pratt, Director of
Communications for GOA.

More than 30 lawsuits have been launched against gun manufacturers
and dealers. Even though none of these suits have proved to be
ultimately successful, one gun maker — Navegar — has already been
forced into bankruptcy.

“The president of the NAACP has described his suit as part of an
effort to ‘break the backs’ of those in the gun industry,” Pratt
said. “These lawsuits are nothing but judicial terrorism.”

“Gun makers and dealers are selling a legal product which is
constitutionally protected. They should not be punished for helping

law-abiding citizens have the means to defend themselves.”

The National Shooting Sports Foundation has documented the patriotic

service that many of the gun makers, who are named in the NAACP
suit, have offered to our country:

* Colt has provided firearms to the U.S. military since 1846 and is
the only supplier of the M-16 rifle.

* Smith & Wesson is one of the largest producers of law-enforcement
firearms and has produced firearms for the U.S. military since the
Civil War.

* Browning is credited with giving the U.S. and its allies firearms
superiority throughout the two world wars, as well as the Korean
War.

* Sturm, Ruger & Company donated rifles to the New York City Police
Department in the days following September 11, 2001, for the
protection of the people of the city.

* Glock provides sidearms for much of the U.S. military and to over
65% of the law enforcement agencies throughout the United States.

* Taurus has volunteered to donate handguns to the first 2,000
pilots who complete their training to carry firearms in the cockpits

of commercial airlines.

* Sig Arms provides the official sidearm for the U.S. Navy SEALS.

“The NAACP lawsuit is not only completely frivolous, it could
ultimately prove harmful to our country,” Pratt said. “Our military

depends upon these gun makers, as do millions of law-abiding
Americans who use these quality firearms for their own self-
protection.”

NOTE: The NAACP case began on March 24 in the federal court for the

Eastern District of New York. The presiding judge is U.S. District
Judge Jack B. Weinstein.

-GOA-

Erich Pratt is the Director of Communications for Gun Owners of
America, a national gun lobby with over 350,000 members located at
8001 Forbes Place, Springfield, VA 22151 and at
http://www.gunowners.org on the web.

Either Erich Pratt or another GOA spokesman is available for press
interviews.

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or call The Gun Owners of America at 703-321-8585 if we can help you
further.