Senate approves bill limiting lawsuit against gun manufacturers

Monday, May 17, 1999 | 7:47 a.m.

AB543 was sponsored by conservative Assemblyman Don Gustavson, R-Sun Valley. He says he's not aware of any lawsuits against gun makers in Nevada, but wants to head off the possibility of frivolous suits.

But opponents of the bill, including Sen. Terry Care, saw AB543 as protection for gun manufacturers that takes control away from local governments.

Care, D-Las Vegas, added that rejecting the bill would be a first step toward healing after the recent school shooting in Littleton, Colo.

"We've always left it to the judges to determine what is frivolous," he said. "I thank God Colorado doesn't have a statute like this."

Objecting to Care's mention of the Littleton shooting, Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, questioned if AB543's opponents would outlaw nails and PVC pipe, since those supplies were also used in bombs found at Columbine High School.

Senate Minority Leader Dina Titus, D-Las Vegas, said no one was talking about outlawing guns, adding "We support the Second Amendment here."

However, Nevada would be going in the opposite action of most other states in approving AB543, she said.

"In the wake of Littleton, while the rest of the country is stepping back and looking at these issues, we are charging forward," Titus said. "The governor of Arizona vetoed a measure similar to this and Colorado pulled two measures. I don't know why it's appropriate for Nevada to move forward."

Sen. Mark James, R-Las Vegas, reminded the Senate that the bill only prevents local governments from suing and wouldn't stop people from filing product liability lawsuits.

The Senate's approval of the bill shouldn't be misconstrued as a "big statement by Nevada," he added.

Voting against the bill were Sen. Bernice Mathews, D-Sparks and Las Vegas-area Democrats Titus, Care, Valerie Wiener, Maggie Carlton, Joe Neal, Mike Schneider and Ray Shaffer. They were joined by Republican Sen. Bill O'Donnell of Las Vegas.

The bill now returns to the Assembly for approval of a Senate amendment.