I'm writing today to urge you to support and pass HR 4184 and S 2048, the Equal Access to Justice for Victims of Gun Violence Act to repeal PLCAA. Gun violence survivors must be allowed to seek justice in the civil courts. The 7th Amendment says: "In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law."
Five months before the Sandy Hook tragedy, a gunman armed with an AR-15 and 100-round drum magazine killed 24-year-old Jessi and 11 others and injured 70 others (58 by gunfire) in the Aurora Movie Theater shooting. Jessi's parents Sandy and Lonnie Phillips filed a lawsuit against Lucky Gunners, an online gun/ammo dealer because they thought it was outrageous that companies could sell a dangerous man an arsenal without getting any information about him. The judge immediately dismissed the case due to PLCAA then he ordered Sandy and Lonnie to pay $203,000 to Lucky Gunners for legal expenses -- which forced Sandy and Lonnie to file for bankruptcy. Sandy and Lonnie deserved to have their day in court. Gun violence stole their daughter and PLCAA stole their future.
HR 4184 and S 2048 do not impact anyone's Second Amendment rights and gun owners and non-gun owners will be better protected when the gun industry makes safer products and becomes more responsible.
Thank you for your consideration!
