Retailers Defense Group Announced

[Old Fuff]

From the Monday, January 12, 2009 The Shooting Wire

As many of you know, NYC Mayor Bloomburg and other government associated entities, as well as some well financed private anti-gun groups, like to sue small firearms dealers with a clear intent of using their deep pockets or unlimited tax money to either force these retailers to knuckle under to they’re demands, or be bankrupted by the legal costs incurred in defending themselves. Now some relief may be coming. For some time I have advocated an industry legal fund to help those dealers fight back against these bullies. Now it appears that this may come about. With the new government moving into Washington this can’t happen too soon.

Retailers Defense Group Announced
Contact: Christopher Chiafullo
FRDF Chairman
(973) 759-1500 x302
[email protected]

Firearms Retailer Defense Fund (FRDF.Org) Launches

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - A new not-for-profit organization dedicated to the legal defense of firearms retailers was announced Saturday at the AcuSport West Dealer Conferences in Salt Lake City, Utah. AcuSport Corporation, one of the leading distributors of outdoor and shooting sports products in the nation, presented the launch of the, the Firearms Retailer Defense Fund (FRDF), and announces will actively support the effort to defend retailers when faced with litigation seeking to regulate the industry. Other firearms distributors have also shown great interest in becoming charter members in support of the FRDF cause.

FRDF will accept donations through collection efforts by participating distributors to help independent firearms retailers defray legal expenses they may incur to defend unfair law suits filed by municipalities, politicians or anti-gun organizations. Each participating distributor will accept and process individual donations on a negligible per order basis with existing customers. In addition, a website (www.FRDF.org) has been created to accept on-line donations.

The independent business owner/firearms retailer can sometimes feel isolated when faced with a legal attack mounted by entities and organizations with an unlimited litigation budget. The creation of the FRDF counteracts the deep-pocketed plaintiff by uniting dealers to defend and protect themselves - and the industry as a whole - through a "rainy day fund collecting a few pennies at a time." These collected funds will be shared when needed to combat the potential infliction of harm through the legal process. "Independent firearms retailers are continually being pressured by anti-gun organizations, changes in legislation and increasing political pressures." said Jim Broering, AcuSport President. "We are always looking for ways to support and strengthen our customers' business and the industry in general, and are proud to stand along with our brother and sister distributors in this cause."

Firearms industry attorney Christopher Chiafullo has been appointed Chairman of the FRDF board of directors. Chiafullo is best known in the firearms industry as the attorney who created FFLGuard (www.fflguard.com). "Firearms retailers should not feel alone when a plaintiff strikes, and FRDF is just one of the resources that will help protect them," Chiafullo said. As an example Chiafullo pointed to the protracted and costly legal battle ensuing between Mayor Bloomberg and retailer Adventure Outdoors in Smyrna, Georgia, noting that "[a] focused and well-funded plaintiff's effort to put a retailer out of business via 'bankruptcy by lawsuit' is a true example of David versus Goliath… requiring the proper resources and industry expertise to increase the likelihood of success when facing that seemingly impossible fight." The FRDF, Chiafullo concludes, "gives 'David the firearms retailer' at least a few stones for his slingshot."

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

I thought Mayor Bloomberg had enough gun laws in place to "protect" his city. If a politician makes policy then policy is enforced right? It seems to me its his responsibility if anyone gets killed on his watch. Let a family member sue the city.

 

[Old Fuff]

Bloomberg and other big-city mayors are either incapable or unwilling to do whatever’s necessary to control and suppress they’re criminal elements. Guns make a convenient scapegoat, and allow them to shift the residents’ attention to something else other then their own government’s incompetence.