04/21/2005 01:34 PM Senate L&C

         SJR 15-BAN LAWSUITS AGAINST FIREARMS INDUSTRY                                                                      
                                                                                                                              
CHAIR CON BUNDE announced SJR 15 to be up for consideration.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
RYAN  MOORE,   staff  to  Senator  Huggins,   sponsor,  said  the                                                               
resolution  addresses the  abuse of  the nation's  courts through                                                               
predatory lawsuits  against the U.S.  by asking Congress  to stop                                                               
prosecution of  this industry for  misbehavior by  criminals over                                                               
which they  have no  control. Alaska  is one  of 33  other states                                                               
that have  passed legislation protecting firearms  and ammunition                                                               
manufacturers and  this resolution will advocate  for the current                                                               
legislation in the U.S. Congress, SB  397 and HR 800. Those cases                                                               
are  often unsuccessful  and their  costs  threaten an  important                                                               
industry in  America. In addition,  these lawsuits do  nothing to                                                               
curb criminal gun violence.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  BUNDE  asked  if  he  knew  the  status  of  that  federal                                                               
legislation.                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. MOORE replied  that the two bills he  mentioned haven't moved                                                               
since they were first read.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
3:00:38 PM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR  SEEKINS  moved SJR  15  from  committee with  individual                                                               
recommendations and  attached fiscal  notes. Senators  Davis, Ben                                                               
Stevens,  Seekins and  Chair Bunde  voted yea;  and SJR  15 moved                                                               
from committee.