On Tuesday, The Washington Post and The Trace published the result of an investigation that found more than 100 people who claim that their SIG Sauer P320 handgun discharged without them pulling the trigger. At least 80 people have reported being wounded by the accidental discharge of this popular handgun, including at least 33 law enforcement officers. (In a written response, SIG Sauer denied that the P320 can fire without the trigger being pulled or that there is a defect.)
At least 80 people have reported being wounded by the accidental discharge of this popular handgun, including at least 33 law enforcement officers.
According to the gun-maker’s response: “(1) unintentional discharges are not uncommon amongst both law enforcement and civilians, (2) improper or unsafe handling is one of the most common causes of unintentional discharges, and (3) unintentional discharges occur with several types of firearms and are not unique to the P320.”
Still, at least 70 people have filed lawsuits against SIG Sauer, and Tuesday’s report notes that gun “manufacturers have opted to ignore long-standing problems” with such design issues unless “facing pressure from lawsuits.”
Significantly, the report from the Post and The Trace reminds us that “Firearms are one of the few products that are exempt from federal consumer product safety regulations. No regulatory body has the power to investigate alleged defects or impose a mandatory recall of guns.”
Yes, gun manufacturers should address design flaws before they’re sued, and, yes, we need an agency that can issue recalls on defective guns. But we also need to repeal a 2005 law that broadly gives gun-makers immunity and shields them from most civil lawsuits.
In fact, this is something President Joe Biden has repeatedly said he wants to see changed. “Most people don’t realize: The only industry in America, billion-dollar industry, that can’t be sued, exempt from being sued, are gun manufacturers,” he said in…
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