WASHINGTON, July 26: The US Senate on Tuesday debated taking up legislation to shield gun manufacturers, dealers and trade associations from lawsuits when crimes are committed involving firearms. The White House is backing the Gun Liability Bill that Republican senator Jeff Sessions said would protect against “runaway verdicts” by juries and spare makers from “unjust lawsuits.”

“The suits are intended to drive gun manufacturers out of business,” Sessions said. White House spokesman Scott McClellan said President George W. Bush strongly supports the legislation because he “believes that the manufacturer of a legal product should not be held liable for the criminal misuse of that product by others.”

Democrats vowed to fight the bill however.

“There’s been no rash of questionable jury awards and not a single decision or final judgment of any court that justifies this unprecedented legislation,” said Democratic Senator Jack Reed at a press conference.

“We’re being asked to do this for an industry that already enjoys an exemption from the federal health and safety regulations that apply to virtually every other product in commerce in the United States,” said Reed.—AFP