Sanders now says he's willing to reconsider holding gun manufacturers liable for gun deaths. [View all]

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Monday, Oct 12, 2015 10:37 AM CDT

Bernie Sanders flips on crucial gun control position days ahead of the first Democratic debate

Sanders now says he's willing to reconsider holding gun manufacturers liable for gun deaths

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This week, it is Bernie Sanders’s reconsideration of his longstanding opposition to holding gun manufacturers liable for gun deaths in the wake of a rash of school shootings.

Sanders cited two shootings Friday at universities in Arizona and Texas as well as last week’s slayings at an Oregon community college when he told NBC’s Chuck Todd during a “Meet the Press” interview on Sunday that he’d take another look at his past position. In 2005, Sanders supported legislation protecting gun manufacturers from civil liability lawsuits.

“That was a complicated vote and I’m willing to see changes in that provision,” Sanders said. “Here’s the reason I voted the way I voted: If you are a gun shop owner in Vermont and you sell somebody a gun and that person flips out and then kills somebody, I don’t think it’s really fair to hold that person responsible, the gun shop owner.”

“On the other hand, where there is a problem, is there is evidence that manufacturers, gun manufacturers, do know that they’re selling a whole lot of guns in an area that really should not be buying that many guns, that many of those guns are going to other areas, probably for criminal purposes?” he asked. “So, can we take another look at that liability issue? Yes.”


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http://www.salon.com/2015/10/12/bernie_sanders_flips_on_crucial_gun_control_position_days_ahead_of_the_first_democratic_debate/