(Wednesday, February 2, 2000) -- The Senate shot down another backdoor attempt at gun control today by a vote of 68-29. GOA Executive Director Larry Pratt praised the Senate's decision and lauded gun owners for quickly answering yesterday's call to action.

"Last night, GOA issued an emergency alert to activists nationwide," Pratt said. "And based on the grassroots responses that we have received today, many of you took immediate action.

"Thank you very much. We are truly grateful for the activism of our members and supporters."

The Senate voted around 1:00 P.M. (EST) on the Levin amendment -- a proposal that would have taken a major step toward putting the gun industry out of business.

But by a vote of 68-29, Senators ditched the agenda that was being so vigorously pursued by anti-gun Senators Carl Levin (D-MI) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY).

The Levin amendment would have clearly helped those cities that are bringing frivolous lawsuits against the gun industry. The amendment provides that, if a judge entered an enormous judgment against a firearms manufacturer or dealer, such businesses could not avoid the judgment by declaring bankruptcy, even if the judgment massively exceeded the total assets of the manufacturer or dealer.

As pointed out in yesterday's alert, the purpose of the Levin amendment is "to ensure, even if the gun industry is successful in defeating 29 out of 30 politically motivated suits, that a single substantial loss can destroy every major American firearms manufacturer -- and ruin the lives of the owners and managers. No one should assume that firearms will continue to be made or sold if this occurs." Virtually no other American industry is singled out for punishment in this way.

SPECIAL NOTES:

1. Many of you are new to GOA's fax and email list. While we typically try to warn activists well before a vote, the nature of legislation is such that is not always possible to do so. Thank you for your patience.
2. On the good news side, the vast majority of people on this list should have received their alert well before the actual vote took place this afternoon.