For Immediate Release: March 13, 2007
Senator Jay Paul Gumm
Senate Approves Bill to Protect Gun Manufacturers
State Sen. Jay
Paul Gumm has won full Senate approval for a measure to give
liability protection to gun manufacturers. Sen. Gumm said
the language was based on a similar law in South Dakota’s
statutes.
“This simply says that if a bad person takes a gun and shoots somebody,
the gun manufacturer cannot be held liable for the criminal actions of that
individual,” said Gumm. “It holds the manufacturer harmless.”
Gumm said the liability protection
would not apply to manufacturers who build a defective product.
“Again, we are strictly talking about guns being used by a criminal to
hurt someone. This makes sure the liability rests where it belongs—with
the person who fires the gun and not the manufacturer.”
The Democrat Senator from Durant said his language was included
as an amendment to Senate Bill 507 by Sen. Cliff Branan, R-Oklahoma
City. SB 507 gives liability protection to volunteers
providing transportation for charitable or non-profit organizations.
“I want to thank Senator Branan for allowing me to place this amendment
in SB 507,” Gumm said. “I can tell you right now that we
are in negotiations with a leading gun manufacturing company interested in
bringing some very good-paying jobs to Oklahoma. I believe this legislation
will help us make an even more favorable impression. If we are successful
in these talks, it’s going to be good economic news for
our state.”
SB 507 now moves to the House of Representatives.
For more information contact:
Senator Gumm's Office - (405) 521-5586