Washington, D.C., January 17, 2024 – The gun industry has made an unconscionable maneuver to circumvent an active lawsuit that has the potential to hold them accountable for the harm they’ve done to the state of Indiana through legally wrongful conduct. Since 1999, Brady has represented the City of Gary in its fight against major gun manufacturers. The gun industry has tried to derail this pivotal case every step of the way. Now, they have turned the legislature against the courts with a bill (HB 1235) that could not only obliterate Gary’s lawsuit — the only of its kind in the country — but would also make it impossible for any locality in Indiana to hold the gun industry accountable for the consequences of the firearms they negligently manufacture, market, and sell. The bill passed through the Indiana House Judiciary Committee and will head to the floor this session.
Kris Brown, President of Brady, said:
“Let’s be clear, this legislation is morally corrupt. It was designed with one goal alone: to kill the City of Gary’s lawsuit against misconduct by gun industry members. This is a lawsuit aimed at holding gun industry defendants accountable for their negligent and dangerous actions – and inactions – that have caused irreparable damage and harm and to protect Hoosiers from gun violence in the future. The gun industry is so threatened and afraid of transparency and accountability that they are manipulating our legislative system to protect their profits. All this to keep their facade intact, but at what cost? I guess corruption must seem like a small price to pay to a billion-dollar industry more concerned with boosting profits than the lives of people killed by their practices.
“Indiana State Rep. Chris Jeter, who is leading this amoral crusade, and every member who voted to pass this legislation, is doing the gun industry’s bidding and the cost continues to be borne by the people of communities all over Indiana not just in Gary.
“We need to do all we can to stop this bill from sailing through the Indiana House. If Gary’s case is allowed to go forward, it has the potential to force industry-wide reform, creating safer sales practices, marketing, and distribution processes from leading gun manufacturers. We need to do all we can to stop this bill from passing or we will all be paying for it with our tax dollars, with our health, and with our lives.”
Brady has one powerful mission — to unite all Americans against gun violence. We work across Congress, the courts, and our communities with over 90 grassroots chapters, bringing together young and old, red and blue, and every shade of color to find common ground in common sense. In the spirit of our namesakes Jim and Sarah Brady, we have fought for over 45 years to take action, not sides, and we will not stop until this epidemic ends. It’s in our hands.
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