Schakowsky Asks Illinois Senators To Stop Gun Bill
Tuesday, April 15, 2003, 1:00 p.m.
By WBBM Newsradio 780
(Chicago) — An Illinois congresswoman, a lawyer for the City of Chicago and gun control advocates are asking Illinois' two senators to stop a bill from becoming law.
The National Rifle Association says the bill it is promoting on Capitol Hill would, quoting, "block the baseless lawsuits being brought by anti-gun groups and greedy trial lawyers in an effort to bankrupt the American firearms industry."
One of the lawsuits that would be affected is the City of Chicago's suit against the gun industry. The city maintains that gun dealers outside the city have created a public nuisance for the city.
Chicago Deputy Corporation Counsel Mike Forti says the city is fighting the legislation.
"It would decree that the suit is no longer viable. I would anticipate that we would not accept that and we would not go down without a fight, challenging that piece of legislation, but it could severely affect our ability to go forward." Forti says the city hopes the state supreme court will hear arguments on the suit by summer.
Also fighting the bill supported by the NRA: Democratic Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. The bill has already passed the House. Next up in the senate.
