Pro-Gun Columbine "Backlash" Snares Aurora Shooting Victims

[angka]

Huffington Post’s Gabriel Arana took note of a story on MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow Show late last week that we’re surprised hasn’t received more local coverage, and we didn’t want it to escape mention. The parents of one of the victims of the 2012 Aurora theater mass shooting, a case currently being tried in an Arapahoe County court, sued online gun dealers who sold the alleged perpetrator of that crime some of the ammunition and other items used in the massacre.

But a law passed in 2000 by the GOP-controlled Colorado General Assembly and signed into law by GOP Gov. Bill Owens turned Sandy and Lonnie Phillips’ pursuit of justice for shooting victim Jessica Ghawi into a nightmare:

Maddow opened her show with heart-rending footage of the Aurora trial. She highlighted the testimony of Brenton Lowak, whose friend Jessica Ghawi — a 24-year-old aspiring sports reporter — died in the shooting.

Here’s the part that set off the Outrage-O-Meter: Jessica’s parents have been ordered by a judge in Colorado to pay $220,000 to the gun retailers who sold Holmes his weapon.

Read more: http://coloradopols.com/diary/71448/pro-gun-columbine-backlash-snares-aurora-shooting-victims

[onehandle]

1. Gun nuts are only second to Republicans as a scourge on America.

Not that there isn't a 98% overlap between gun nuts and Republicans, but I have to be fair.

[samsingh]

2. agreed

[benld74]

3. The gun retailers would get their $220K when,,,

"They pry it from my cold dead hands!" nt

[Paladin]

4. +1000.

The gun nuts are howling that these parents are obligated to follow the law---and they never miss a chance to voice their intention to ignore any laws which impact their free-and-easy access to and ownership of any firearms they please. Bunch of hypocrites.

[davidpdx]

5. Sick

[angka]

6. It needs media attention. It's horrific.

[GGJohn]

7. It's the law, and it's common in civil cases for the losing party to have to pay

the opposing sides attorney's fees, it's not like this is a unique case.

[Paladin]

8. No lectures on adherence to laws from pro-gun militants, OK?

Not after years and years of prideful boasting by Gun Enthusiasts, here at DU and elsewhere, about how many laws you've broken or intend to break, in furtherance of your acquisition and use of firearms and accessories. ("I used to have a gun collection, but it was lost in a tragic boating accident" is a perennial favorite.) You people wear your scofflaw tendencies like a badge of honor. You have no standing to do any finger-pointing at these parents who have already lost so much.

[GGJohn]

9. I've never threatened to break any laws,

so take your lecture and tell it to someone who cares.
I just pointed out that this isn't unusual for civil cases.
I have just as much standing to comment as you have to comment on my post.