Gun Manufacturers Claim Patriotic Pride, Make Them Take Responsibility

In light of the recent tragedy in Uvalde, Texas which took the lives of 21 human beings 19 of whom were children between the ages of 8 and 11 years old and other tragic events the South Carolina Community Black Caucus proposes the following legislation to be introduced in the United States Congress as soon as humanly possible.

As you are no doubt aware, the children and two adults had their lives snuffed out by an 18 year old who was in lawful possession of an AR-15 style assault weapon. We can put a man on the moon but can’t figure out how to stop the slaughter of our children at school. Can’t or won’t?

Education is compulsory. We must send our children to school because the law says so. But our children are not safe once they get to school. I wonder how many politicians' children go to public school?

SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS

Yes we are talking about Second Amendment rights. Make no mistake about it. I am a supporter of the Second Amendment. How could I not be? I’m a black man born and raised in America and like the founders I have a healthy well deserved distrust of government. We always had a gun in the house, a long gun and a revolver. I believe everyone should have the right to defend themselves, their families and their property. And that your car is like a mobile home.

But I don’t buy the argument that you have the right to have a weapon created for the specific purpose of killing as many human beings as possible in the shortest period of time possible and I definitely do not believe that you should be able to have it outside of the home.

WE MUST PROTECT OUR CHILDREN

I was taught that we must always protect our children, not just your own children or children that you know personally - all children. This is why I'm so outraged by the recent events in Uvalde, Texas and all the other schools where defenseless children have been slaughtered. I know this is a complicated matter. But they all have one thing in common - assault weapons. A little history is necessary here.

DEMISE OF THE ASSAULT WEAPONS BAN = RISE OF ASSAULT WEAPON SALES

Assault weapons were banned from 1994 to 2004. The law expired in 2004 and in 2005 the Congress passed the single most underhanded piece of legislation in modern times. In short, the legislation (Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act 15 USC §§ 7901-7903) prohibits civil suits against gun manufacturers, distributors and sellers.

It is this legislation more than anything else that is responsible for the increase in the number of assault weapons manufactured annually in the United States. In 2004 prior to the passage of the PLCAA 100,000 assault weapons were manufactured. In 2013 two million such weapons were manufactured. Between 2010 to 2019 the annual average of assault weapons manufactured in the United States was 8.57 million. Gun manufacturers can now flood the market with these weapons without fear of being sued. This is because they are shielded from civil liability. Advances in product safety have always been preceded by lawsuits. It is the fear of being sued that drives change.

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW

You can join us in our effort to get this proposed legislation passed. (1) Go to our Website at www.sccommunityblackcaucus.org JOIN our organization and DONATE whatever you can to help us get the word out. (2) Write or call your Congressperson and encourage him/her to introduce or co-sponsor the PRODUCT PRIDE AND RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 2022 now.

If you are in South Carolina we are requesting that Congressman Jim Clyburn,(D-SC6) introduce this Bill and as Majority Whip use his good offices to shepherd it through the House of Representatives. We are also asking Senators Tim Scott and Lindsey Graham to co-sponsor a Senate version.