If we don’t help the NRA, the terrorists win

July 28, 2005

I can appreciate why Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is championing legislation that would shield firearms manufacturers, dealers, and importers from lawsuits — he is, after all, an aspiring presidential candidate and the NRA matters politically — but it’s incredible to see the lengths he’ll go to help push this bill along.

First, Frist pulled a defense appropriations bill just to take up the NRA’s legislation. Then Frist threatened to delay the Senate’s August vacation unless the gun bill got a vote. But my personal favorite was hearing Frist explain why the NRA’s measure was so important right now.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) interrupted debate on the 2006 defense authorization bill to consider legislation to block lawsuits against gun manufacturers, saying that “frivolous” litigation could leave the Defense Department without a U.S. source for sidearms. […]

“Without this legislation it is probable the American manufacturers of legal firearms will be faced with a real prospect of going out of business, ending a critical source of supply for our armed forces, our police and our citizens,” Frist said…. “These frivolous suits threaten a domestic industry that is critical to our national defense.”

Now, from time to time, we’ll joke about the conservative line, “if we don’t do x, the terrorists win,” but it’s generally just funny. Here, however, we have the Senate Majority Leader arguing that existing tort law as it applies to the gun industry could literally put our troops in danger. There was, alas, no sign that he was kidding.

Alarmist claims not withstanding, the Pentagon has said there is no shortage of small arms in the military. The NRA lobbyists may have to give Frist a new set of talking points.

Mr. Frist must be concerned about his legacy of being the most visibly ‘bought and paid for’ political tool in the history of the republic, so he keeps doing this so that everyone can be absolutely sure about it. Note to Mr. Frist: “It’s working.”

  • The appropriations bill will be coming up again in four to six weeks, guaranteed. McCain will add his amendment again, as will Lott.

    Frist won’t have the votes to stop them, nor will have have the votes to defeat the bill. He’ll get to go on record though as a Republican opposing a defense approprations bill, as will all the other Republican Senators who vote with him.

    And that surely will make for some interesting campaigning when these guys are up for reelection!

    Then the fun really starts. Bush has said he’d veto the thing with these amendments. I don’t think he has the brass, but he’s arrogant and obstinate enough to do it. If he does, the Administration’s justifications for doing so will be priceless.

    If he does, will the Senate override?

  • It’s not just the gun nuts that own Frist. They share him with the tobacco companies. In 2000 I did an analysis of which public officials had received the most tobacco money the previous cycle. DOCTOR Frist was tops. I haven’t updated it in a long time, but I suspect he’s still up there if not on top.

    As much as I am dismayed by the notion of health professionals who themselves smoke, it is much more upsetting to me to see a doctor take so much tobacco money.

    He’s not exactly a shining example for the kids.

  • knobboy,

    Yes, Bush will veto it, and not because he has “brass ones” between his legs; he has them in his head.

    These thugs have shown countless times that national security will always be trumped by whatever might be of political expediency for them. Whether it is outlawing — yet again — military torture, or outing Plame, or going to war on lies, or not protecting the homefront (port inspections, chemical and energy plants, the food chain, etc.), BushCo is not willing to take the steps to truly protect us. When you take into account his dismal record on diplomacy (as opposed to “kick ass first and ask questions later” at which he excels), their stupidity in the name of national security is a crime.

    Will the Senate override? Only if the Rethugs grow a conscience between the time Bush vetoes it and the Senate takes up the opportunity to override — and that is even IF Frist will permit the override vote. Not a sure bet at all.

    Democracy: May it R.I.P.

    • Comments are closed.