Taking gun manufacturers to court can save lives

Chicago Sun-Times

October 5, 2022

Just as it seemed egregious that only a tax violation sent Al Capone to prison, it might seem bizarre that lawsuits are becoming a significant tool to address rampant gun violence.

But the decision by survivors and families of the victims of July’s horrific Highland Park parade shootings to sue gunmaker Smith & Wesson is the right one. The gun industry and its allies for too long have helped to spread carnage while ducking responsibility. Because the gun industry has managed to create near-blanket legal immunity for itself in so many ways, lawsuits are one of the few effective ways to reduce gun violence.