FEATURE STORIES

Gun Dealer, Manufacturer Pay $2.5 Million to Sniper Victims to Settle Lawsuit
September 9, 2004

Seattle, WA - In a landmark settlement, the Washington State gun dealer who "lost" the assault rifle used by the DC-area snipers, and the manufacturer of the rifle, today agreed to pay a total of $2.5 million in damages to settle a civil lawsuit brought by the victims of the DC-area snipers. The settlement represents the first time a gun manufacturer has paid damages for negligence leading to criminal violence. The settlement is expected to be approved by the court within the next few weeks.

The Tacoma, Washington dealer, Bull's Eye Shooter Supply, agreed to pay $2 million in damages. The manufacturer of the XM-15 assault rifle, Bushmaster Firearms of Wyndham, Maine, agreed to pay $550,000.

• Click here to read the full press release.
• Click here to read the case summary.

Department of Justice Ordered to Stop Withholding Records From The Public
September 17, 2004

Chicago, IL - Federal government agencies have been ordered by a federal appeals court to release data on sales of firearms and tracing of firearms recovered by law enforcement.

The data had first been sought by the City of Chicago, through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, over four years ago, but ATF refused to release the information based on certain exemptions of FOIA. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were ordered by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit to release the data. This is the second time that the court has ruled that this information must be made available to the public, while ATF has asked the courts and Congress to help keep the information secret.

• Click here to read the full press release.
• Click here to read the decision.