Newtown Action Alliance Applauds the Re-introduction of Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act in 116th Congress

For Immediate Release

June 11, 2019

Contact:

Steve Yanovsky

SYanovsky@newtownaction.org

Newtown Action Alliance Applauds the Re-introduction of Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act in 116th Congress

Newtown, CT - Newtown Action Alliance and Survivors Empowered applaud Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Adam Schiff for re-introducing the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act in the 116th Congress.

“For years, Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) has prevented too many families impacted by devastating gun violence from towns and cities across this nation from seeking justice in the courtroom. Numerous cases across the nation have been dismissed on the basis of PLCAA even when the gun industry actions would qualify as negligent. PLCAA has contributed to gun violence in America by immunizing the gun industry from its fundamental duty to act responsibly in the interest of public safety. We have been advocating for Congress to pass the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act to repeal PLCAA to ensure that the gun manufacturers, sellers and interest groups will no longer be shielded from civil liability when it acts with negligence and disregard for public safety”, said Po Murray, chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance

Founders of Surviors Empowered Sandy and Lonnie Phillips stated, “We are the parents of Jessica Ghawi, an Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooting victim. We filed a lawsuit against Lucky Gunner, the online company that provided the ammunition to the gunman who murdered our daughter along with 11 others and injured 70 others. We brought our lawsuit because we thought it was outrageous that companies could sell a dangerous man an arsenal without getting any information about him, and without making any effort to see if he was a dangerous killer—which he was. The lawsuit was thrown out because of PLCAA, and the judge ordered that we pay $203,000 for the company’s attorney fees. This is an outrageous amount, especially given that this case was decided after one single motion. Lucky Gunner has said that it is going to donate all these fees to “gun rights” groups. The thought is disgusting to us that Lucky Gunner does not even plan to use this money to pay for their attorney’s fees. PLCAA does not protect us or other families of victims of gun violence. It’s time for Congress to repeal PLCAA and we thank Senator Blumenthal and Representative Schiff for taking a leadership role in holding the gun industry accountable.”

 

Murray also stated, “Repealing PLCAA is one of Newtown Action Alliance’s  26 policy priorities to end all forms of gun violence in our nation. We have been tracking all gun control legislation that are being introduced in the 116th Congress and we encourage immediate hearings and votes on these life-saving legislative proposals. We cannot wait another day as 108 more Americans are killed by guns on a daily basis.” The list of 26 policy priorities and list of bills introduced in the 116th Congress can be found here: http://bit.ly/NewtownActionGunPolicies

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Newtown Action Alliance (http://alliance.newtownaction.org/) is a Newtown-based, national grassroots organization formed after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings. Our mission is to achieve the steady and continuous reduction of gun violence through legislative and cultural changes.


Survivors Empowered (https://www.survivorsempowered.org/) is an organization founded by Sandy and Lonnie Phillips after the slaughter of their daughter, Jessica Redfield Ghawi and eleven others in the Aurora Colorado Theater Mass Shooting in 2012. Their original non-profit, Jessi’s Message, has grown into Survivors Empowered - a national organization created By Survivors, For Survivors, Empowering Survivors.