Bush law protects irresponsible gun dealers

If we're serious about halting murderous rampages without infringing on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans, we can start by repealing the misnamed Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act.

This is a law enacted by the Bush regime that shields gun dealers from being held liable for crimes committed with the wares they sell. The law was ruled unconstitutional in an Indiana case, but other courts have inexplicably upheld the law.

We don't know all the facts surrounding James Holmes, but it is known that Bush's law aided and abetted Jared Loughner. Loughner was known throughout Tucson as a serial troublemaker. I'm not talking about just minor run-ins with police like his charge for defacing a traffic sign. I'm talking about a pattern of more serious misconduct indicative of something far more sinister.

But a sporting goods shop sold him a gun anyway. Plus, Wal-Mart sold him ammo. While background checks didn't disqualify Loughner from buying a gun, his activity that was known throughout town should have been enough for stores to refuse to sell to him. A different Wal-Mart location had refused to sell him ammo, so it's not as if Wal-Mart didn't know about him.

Because of Bush's shielding of those who sell weaponry irresponsibly, victims and their families can't sue the retailers who sold guns or ammo to Loughner. They would have had recourse if not for that law. More importantly, maybe the stores would have thought twice before selling to Loughner if they knew they could be sued.

Once again, Big Business gets to stick out its tongue at its victims who have no remedy against irresponsible practices.

It was easier for a man with a known history of troublemaking to buy a gun than it is for most folks to buy beer!

Why is this law called the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act? Jared Loughner's shooting spree was not "lawful commerce." This is yet another example of right-wingers misnaming their policies to reflect the exact opposite of what they are - not unlike "right-to-work" laws.

Repeal this law. But leave the Second Amendment alone.