For Immediate Release

Baltimore City Council condemns federal bill s 659, the gun industry immunity bill

June 17th, 2003

Baltimore, MD: CeaseFire Maryland, formerly Marylanders Against Handgun Abuse, praised the Baltimore City Council and its President, Sheila Dixon, for passing a resolution roundly condemning the Senate bill, S 659, which would grant legal immunity to an industry that makes a product that kills over 200 Baltimore citizens and over 600 Marylanders each year. Resolution 03-1158 was passed at Monday’s Council meeting. Baltimore joins New York City and Detroit in passing resolutions against this federal bill.

Leah Barrett, Executive Director of CeaseFire Maryland, said: "I want to thank President Dixon for sending a strong message to the US Senate, which may take up consideration of S 659 any day now, that the people of Baltimore are outraged that it would even consider passing such a stunningly bad bill. Consumer protection litigation is a well-recognized tool to get business to behave responsibly, to correct dangerous product flaws and improve bad marketing practices. Passage of this bill will take way vital incentives to pressure the gun industry to build in safety features and change noxious marketing, distribution and selling practices." She added: " It will also take away the only recourse victims of gun violence have against corrupt gun industry practices. The passage of this bill will make our children and communities more vulnerable to the devastation of gun violence."

The Resolution cites the fact that "…gun manufacturers and sellers are already exempt from federal consumer product safety regulation and the only other product that enjoys such exemption is tobacco." The gun industry, of all industries, should not be immune from legal oversight. In 1999, 657 Marylanders died as a result of gunshot injuries. At that time, Baltimore was home to 12% of the state’s population; however, 40% (263) of the state’s gun deaths were Baltimore City residents. During that same year, sixty-one percent of guns recovered from criminal suspects in Baltimore City had been sold initially by Maryland gun dealers.

The youth of Baltimore also suffer tremendously from gun violence in the city. More than half of all gun deaths among Marylanders under age 20 in 1999 were Baltimore City residents and almost all of these, 87%, were homicides.

Barrett concluded: "Litigation has contributed to the safer design of many products, including cars, household products, toys and industrial materials. S 659 would take away a critical tool from those fighting the ravages of gun violence. It would be like taking away a powerful medicine from doctors trying to prevent a dangerous disease. More of our locally elected officials should follow the example of the Baltimore City Council and tell the Senate not to pass this legislation."

Foiled Massacre in Southern New Jersey Leads CeaseFire Maryland to Exclaim: "Get Guns Out of Homes Now!"

Three Teen Boys in South Jersey Had Plans for a Columbine Type Massacre and Arsenal from Home to Accomplish It

Baltimore, MD (July 7, 2003) – CeaseFire Maryland called on parents to remove guns from their homes following news reports on the foiling by police of a Columbine-type massacre planned by three Oaklyn (Camden County), NJ teens. According to reports, the three were captured, after a failed carjacking, in possession of "high-powered rifles," shotguns and handguns early yesterday morning. Police, apparently, also found more guns at the homes of all three teens, as well as plans to commit a massacre of students and other Oaklyn residents. The Camden County Prosecutor said that the guns were the property of the eldest teen’s father.

Leah Barrett, Executive Director, said: "First, CeaseFire Maryland commends the Oaklyn Police Department for its quick and absolutely effective action in foiling what could have been a horrible tragedy. But no one should have to depend on law enforcement to proactively protect them from such events. It is time for parents to remove guns from their homes to prevent more potential tragedies such as what almost occurred yesterday. That Oaklyn almost suffered a Columbine-type tragedy because young people had easy access to guns is an example of why parents need to act now."

"The gun lobby has worked hard to convince Americans that they need guns in their homes for protection. As a result, too many parents have guns in their homes because they believe they will be safer. The reality is they’re putting their families, their friends, their neighbors and, as this near tragedy so vividly shows, even innocent people outside the home at greater risk of gun violence," said Matt Fenton, President of CeaseFire Maryland.

Leah Barrett continued: "The sad fact is no matter how much care parents take to store their guns, it is impossible to store them so that clever and determined young people cannot get their hands on them. So, until firearms manufacturers improve their products to prevent unauthorized use, the only truly safe solution is to keep guns out of homes."

Leah Barrett said: "Some unanswered questions still exist, such as whether all the guns came from the eldest teen’s father’s home, and how the guns were stored. But, more than any legal or legislative point, CeaseFire Maryland believes that public attention should be directed to the fact that, if there had not been an abundance of guns available for these teens to take, there would be no story warranting such attention, and there would have been no potential massacre."

A recent study showed 22 suicides (attempted or completed), homicides or unintentional shootings for every justifiable shooting of an assailant or intruder. Kellerman, AL, Somes G, Rivara F, et al, Injuries and deaths due to firearms in the home. Journal of Trauma 45: 263-267, 1998.