Saturday, March 18, 2000
Gun dealers wary of deal
Retailers take wait-and-see attitude on locks
BY EARNEST WINSTON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Tristate gun dealers criticized a deal announced Friday between Smith & Wesson and the Clinton administration calling for the gun manufacturer to provide locks on its handguns and other safety measures. In exchange, governments would drop lawsuits seeking damages for gun violence.
Smith & Wesson agreed to a “code of conduct” for sales and distribution of handguns and not to market to juveniles or criminals. The agreement also calls for the country's biggest gun manufacturer to make its guns child-resistant within a year.
Peter Garrett, owner of Garrett Gunsmiths Inc. in Newport, said he doesn't think Smith & Wesson will follow through on its promise.
“We've got to wait and see if they do it. Smith & Wesson claims they're going to make all these adjustments. It's all smoke screen on their part,” Mr. Garrett said. “They're just as guilty as the (Clinton) administration. They said several months ago they'd clean that up and they haven't.”
Attorney Stanley Chesley, who is representing the City of Cincinnati in a lawsuit against handgun manufacturers, called the deal “a step in the right direction.”
The city is appealing a judge's decision to dismiss the suit.
“I think the net effect of (the agreement) will be the prevention of countless accidental shootings across the country,” said Cincinnati Councilman Todd Portune.
Although several state and local municipalities that were pursuing gun lawsuits signed the agreement, Mr. Chesley said Cincinnati will review the settlement before considering whether to join the deal.
Dave Sherritt, an employee at Costello's Gun Shop Inc. in North College Hill, said he has a problem with the government pursuing the deal with Smith & Wesson.
“Most honest people who like guns, they don't want anybody hurt by them,” Mr. Sherritt said. “But we also don't want to be stepped on, either. I don't want my government coming in saying I do not have the right to protect myself. If a gun is locked up, it's useless (in self-defense).”
Brom Espy, owner of the Hawken Shop in Norwood, said he offers trigger locks or lockable plastic cases with every gun sale, but most customers decline to buy them.
“Nobody wants them because they use boxes that have locks on them rather than some complicated device that would eliminate the possibility of using it in their defense,” he said.
Trish Hylton, a spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association in Fairfax, Va., declined to comment, saying only, “We haven't had a chance to review the settlement.”
The Connecticut-based National Shooting Sports Foundation, the world's largest firearms trade organization, said Smith & Wesson's agreement violates the trust of its consumers and the firearms industry.
“Smith & Wesson has taken a list of suggestions and initiatives that have been discussed in confidential industry talks and run off and cut their own deal with the Clinton administration and a list of anti-gun government officials,” said Robert Delfay, president and chief executive office of the foundation.
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