During an April 4 interview, Democrat presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders reiterated his defense of lawfully made and sold firearms and made clear his belief that family members of Sandy Hook Elementary School victims should not be allowed to sue Bushmaster.
According to The New York Daily News, Sanders responded to questions about suing gun makers and sellers by voicing his opposition to holding “a gun dealer” liable for the behavior of someone to whom a gun is legally sold. When asked specifically about the lawsuit Sandy Hook families seek to file against the manufacturer of the stolen gun that was used in that attack, Sanders said he does not support the suit.
NY Daily News asked, “There’s a case currently waiting to be ruled on in Connecticut. The victims of the Sandy Hook massacre are looking to have the right to sue for damages the manufacturers of the weapons. Do you think that that is something that should be expanded?”
Sanders responded, “Do I think the victims of a crime with a gun should be able to sue the manufacturer, is that your question?”
The NY Daily News said, “Correct.”
Sanders replied, “No, I don’t.”
This does not mean Sanders has wavered on his support for gun control. He still wants universal background checks, he wants to “close the gun show loophole,” and he wants to expand the exchange of mental health information, among other things.
However, he is clear that regardless of what is done, “Nobody can guarantee that some lunatic is not going to pick up a gun today and kill people.”
AWR Hawkins is the Second Amendment columnist for Breitbart News and political analyst for Armed American Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.