News/Commentary

Joe Biden’s ‘ghost gun’ dog and pony show had more than a few flaws

April 12, 2022 | | Print Article

In a Rose Garden gathering pushing for further restrictions on so-called “ghost guns” President Joe Biden likened firearms to cigarettes as he once again misconstrued the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA) stating manufacturers have “immunity from liability” that demands scrutiny of their internal documents to see what they’re doing in “making and marketing their deadly products.”

While also announcing his newest pick to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Steve Dettelbach, Biden brought up the case of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and the lawsuit families of the victims pursued against gun manufacturer Remington.

“Look, this is incredibly rare because gun manufacturers have more immunity from liability than any other American industry,” Biden claimed, “so they have never had to take responsibility for the death and destruction their products cause. But as part of this settlement, Remington agreed to release thousands of pages of internal documents.”

“Here’s why it’s so important: Remember, it wasn’t until we saw the internal documents that we really understood what cigarette manufacturers were doing to our kids and to our families. Now, we may begin to see what gun manufacturers are and are not doing when it comes to making and marketing their deadly products,” he went on.

As part of their $73 million settlement, Remington did agree to release those documents, but that is precisely because they weren’t shielded from liability as Biden declared. The president made this came claim during his State of the Union and even the Associated Press pointed out that PLCAA is not blanket immunity.

“The law lays out exceptions where manufacturers or dealers can be held liable for damages their weapons cause, such as defects or damages in the design of the gun, negligence, or breach of contract or warranty regarding the purchase of a gun,” the AP laid out. The gun used in Sandy Hook was a stolen weapon and therefore not protected through PLCAA.

Of course, Biden appeared to only just realize that committing a crime should be prosecuted on Monday.

“If you commit a crime with a ghost gun, expect federal prosecution,” Biden announced. However, what escapes the grasp of the president is that the “ghost gun” itself is not the problem, it’s the crime that is being committed with it.

“I support the Second Amendment. You have a right,” Biden claimed. “But from the very beginning, the Second Amendment didn’t say you can own any gun you want, big as you want. You couldn’t buy a cannon when, in fact, the Second Amendment passed…It’s nothing new. It’s just rational.”

If Biden’s claims were true, which they aren’t, no new legislation would need to be passed to prohibit the sale or ownership of particular types of weapons.

He also wouldn’t have to make embarrassing presentations that show how out of his depth he is on this subject that has been an integral part of the fabric of the United States since its founding.

Kevin Haggerty
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