Bernie Sanders is taking action to repeal a pro-gun law he helped enact. The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) was passed in 2005 and prevents gun manufacturers from liability in lawsuits over gun violence.
Senator Sanders has announced that he will co-sponsor a bill to repeal the PLCAA. Sanders has previously received strong criticism from gun-control activists for his role in the passing of the PLCAA nearly 11 years ago, among his other pro-gun decisions.
Much has changed since then, however, with 2015 seeing over 350 mass shootings in just one year.
The Democratic candidate has gone on record regarding his decision to help pass the PLCAA:
“There are parts of it that made sense to me. If you have a small gun shop owner in Northern Vermont who sells a gun legally to somebody and then, you know, something happens to that guy, he goes nuts or something, and he kills somebody, should the gun shop owner be held liable? I think not.”
This month Sanders has met with families of a few gun violence victims, including the uncle of 13-year-old Josh Adames, who was killed in an accidental shooting that may have been able to be prevented by the gun company.
The most notable group that has attacked Sanders’ past decision on gun laws is the Brady Campaign, whose head, Dan Gross, is endorsing Hillary Clinton. The Brady Campaign is a national group that aims to “create a safer America for all of us that will lead to a dramatic reduction in gun deaths and injuries.” Gross has stated that he expects more than just Sanders putting his name on the bill and that: “Co-sponsoring a bill means more than simply signing a piece of paper — Sen. Sanders now has an obligation to take action to force a vote in the Senate and usher this bill to final passage.”
Judging from gun-control activists reactions, Sanders has a long way to go to undo the damage his past pro-gun law decisions have caused with many potential supporters.
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