SJR 15-BAN LAWSUITS AGAINST FIREARMS INDUSTRY                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:31:30 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR RALPH SEEKINS announced SJR 15 to be up for consideration.                                                                
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR CHARLIE  HUGGINS introduced SJR  15. The State  of Alaska                                                               
would be  sending a message saying  the citizens do not  like the                                                               
legal  approach  of  shutting   down  an  industry  that  Alaskan                                                               
citizens fully support.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MS.  KAREN SAWYER,  staff to  Senator Huggins,  commented SJR  15                                                               
would end tort  law abuse against the  firearm industry. Lawsuits                                                               
force  law-abiding  businesses  to   pay  for  criminal  acts  by                                                               
individuals beyond their control.  Lawsuits do nothing to control                                                               
gun violence.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HUGGINS commented National  Rifle Association (NRA) money                                                               
helps communities.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
9:35:05 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  RALPH SEEKINS  admitted  he  has to  buy  a  new gun  safe                                                               
because his large one is  full. His grandson recently finished an                                                               
NRA safety class.  He routinely enrolls his family  in gun safety                                                               
classes.  It is  an  Alaskan  right and  heritage  to safely  use                                                               
firearms for useful purposes.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
9:40:32 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR   GRETCHEN  GUESS   clarified  the   committee  was   not                                                               
discussing a firearm malfunctioning type of lawsuit.                                                                            
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR HUGGINS answered no.  Manufacturers are forced ridiculous                                                               
measures to protect themselves against frivolous lawsuits.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
9:42:24 AM                                                                                                                    
SENATOR HOLLIS FRENCH referred to  a letter provided by Mr. Brian                                                               
Judy that informs  people could still sue  for product liability.                                                               
He expressed support of SJR 15.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
9:44:18 AM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR SEEKINS asserted SJR 15  does not absolve someone who sells                                                               
a  firearm  to  someone  knowing  that  person  will  use  it  in                                                               
violation of the law.                                                                                                           
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HUGGINS  moved SJR  15  from  committee with  individual                                                               
recommendations  and  attached  fiscal note(s).  There  being  no                                                               
objection, the motion carried.