Gun Reform Signed On Behalf Of New York And Other States

In light of recent public shootings byminors, President Bill Clinton has urged Federal legislation requiring safety
locks on all guns sold. According to an article in the Detroit Free Press (3-3-00), Wayne County recently
reached an agreement with three large retailers (Gander Mountain, Sports Authority, and Dick’s Sporting
Goods) and all of their Michigan chain stores, to give free trigger locks to all firearm buyers. This is apparently
the first time that retailers anywhere in the nation have voluntarily given free trigger locks to gun buyers without
a law requiring them to do so.

The Federal government and some state and local governments reached an agreement on March 17, 2000,
with Smith & Wesson, the nation’s largest gun manufacturer, which agreed to make some 80 reforms
concerning the design, distribution, and marketing of guns. Among other provisions, the agreement requires
Smith & Wesson to install mandatory child-safety devices on all guns within one year; introduce personalized
gun technology on all new guns within three years; install internal locking devices within two years; offer
magazine disconnect safeties to all customers within one year; and install chamber loaded indicators within one
year. In addition, the agreement requires Smith &Wesson to allow its guns to be sold only to certain authorized
dealers and distributors who follow the specified terms and conditions governing sales and distribution,
includingmandatory background checks at gun shows, firearms safety training, security procedures to prevent
gun theft, and multiple handgun sales limitations. Due to the agreement, the following local governments
reportedly have agreed to drop their lawsuits against Smith &Wesson: Atlanta, Berkeley, Bridgeport, Camden,
Detroit,Gary, Inglewood, Los Angeles,Miami/Dade County, St. Louis, and San Francisco. The agreement also
was signed on behalf of the State of New York and Connecticut.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia became the latest municipality to take gun makers to court when it filed suit against
14 manufacturers (including Smith & Wesson) on April 11, 2000 (Associated Press, 4-12-00). The city is
seeking to recover costs from gun violence, includingmedical care, police protection, emergency services, and
prisons, as well as force the defendants to add safety features to guns and change the way weapons are
marketed and distributed. Although the State of Pennsylvania recently enacted legislation prohibiting local
governments from suing firearmsmanufacturers, that law reportedly bans lawsuits against the legalmarketing
of guns, while the city contends that the defendants marketed their products illegally.