Bernie Sanders Takes Flak for Newtown Gun Lawsuit Stance

U.S. Senator and presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders took some flak again after he was questioned about his views on a lawsuit filed by Sandy Hook shooting victim families against a gun manufacturer.

Sanders said during a New York Daily News editorial interview that he doesn’t think a gun dealer should be sued if a product legally sold is used to commit a crime.

He would support the ability to sue manufacturers and dealers if they should have known that guns would fall into hands of the wrong people.

Connecticut U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy took to Twitter to criticize his colleague Sanders.

“Bernie is a friend, but this is really bad,” he said. “Dems can't nominate a candidate who supports gun manufacturer immunity.”

Related:

• Gun Manufacturer Seeks Dismissal of Sandy Hook Shooting Lawsuit
• Sanders and Clinton Spar on Gun Manufacturer Immunity

Several family members of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims have sued the manufacturer, distributor and seller of the Bushmaster AR-15 semiautomatic rifle that was used to kill 20 children and six educators.

Much of the case is centered on whether the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act grants immunity to those being sued. Lawyers for the families are focused on negligent entrustment where the seller knew or should have known the weapon would be used illegally.

The editorial board asked Sanders if he thinks the current case is baseless.

“It's not baseless. I wouldn't use that word,” Sanders said, according to the interview transcript. “But it's a backdoor way. If you're questioning me, will I vote to ban assault weapons in the United States, yeah, I will.”

Sanders said his position on the issue shouldn’t be construed as support for the gun lobby and that he has received bad grades from the National Rifle Association in the past for his voting record.

He also said that he lost a close Vermont election in 1988 potentially due to his support for an assault weapon ban.

It isn’t the first time Sanders has been criticized for the view by gun control advocates. The lawsuit came up during a debate between Sanders and Hillary Clinton. Sanders voted in favor of the PLCA bill and Clinton voted against it. Clinton said that moves should be made to repeal the law.