Less than 24 hours after a House of Representatives vote in favor of a bill that would provide makers and distributors of food products immunity from lawsuits filed by claimants who allege that food products had caused their obesity-related ailments, the House has also approved a bill that would shield firearms and ammunition manufacturers and sellers from legal liability arising from the misuse of their products by third parties. Last Thursday’s 283 to 144 vote sends the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (S. 397) to President Bush for his signature, as it had already passed the Senate.  The Senate has yet to vote on the food liability bill.

October 25, 2005