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	Vol.7, No 21, October 5, 1999
	Gun makers not responsible for crime One of the worst possible legal precedents was set last week when a California Court of Appeals upheld a ruling that a gun company can be held liable for the use or misuse of its product.  The San Francisco killings at 101 California St. have become a battle cry of state anti-gun legislators to the same degree that Columbine High School has become in Colorado. Mark Blackburn This case was the first to be decided in a long line of similar suits in 17 different states. The old axiom that guns do not kill people, people kill people has just been tossed aside.  Now, instead of finding a person guilty, we as a society can start suing institutions and businesses for the misconduct of individuals not connected to that business. What is next? Maybe we can now sue the Catholic Church because a marriage fails. How about car manufactures? Can we sue them for when a drunken driver plows into someone else? Already we are able to sue cigarette companies for our personal choice to smoke.   It kind of takes away that whole free will thing I was taught as a child. I can sympathize with a family that loses someone to violence.  But in holding a company, any company, responsible for the actions of a person who uses a product to hurt someone else is just wrong.  We complain that the government is already too deep into our lives, but now we are opening the door for manufacturers to sit on our shoulders like little cartoon angels telling us how to use our own products. If I decide to shoot hair spray fireballs from my balcony, that is my choice.  I take the risks and the responsibilities if something happens. I do not want the AquaNet angel there to tell me that I am acting up and send me to my room.  We fear "Big Brother" but allow him in every time we decide that someone other than the individual is to blame. How do we control the flow of guns into our streets and the hands of criminals? Chances are we don't.  But as a society we must work toward tougher legislation, self-awareness when we have guns in our homes, and stronger rules for who can sell guns.  Suing a company will not take the guns from criminals; they will always get guns.  It will only prevent law-abiding citizens from exercising their right to purchase and own a gun. Besides, where would we be if the kite manufactures had told Ben Franklin not to tie the key to the tail? We would still be in the dark.  Mark Blackburn is the photo editor of the Daily Forty-Niner and a criminal justice major.		LBSU returns to first Picnic celebrates 50 years of CSULB history Education funding first, report says Crime Log Three women killed on Long Beach freeway Toy story Raise CSULB standard Gun makers not responsible for crime 'I want Snoop on campus' Reznor returns to familiar territory with new album UCSB snaps losing streak 49ers split again Fall 99 ISSUES DAILY 49ER HOMEPAGE
Forty-Niner Publications, Department of Journalism, California State University, Long Beach ©1999 All rights reserved.