To recoup its share, Washington, D.C. has become the 30th American city to sue the gun industry for negligence. Washington's suit attempts to recover damages for the costs that could be avoided - if the gun industry acted responsibly in making and selling its product. Rushi Bhowmik is an attorney with the Center to Prevent Handgun Violence, handling the city's case. She says many people mistakenly think because guns are inherently dangerous, manufacturers can't be charged with negligence. There's a duty to live up to that standard and their failure to do so is negligent.
Gun manufacturers deny they're to blame for the carnage and the costs guns inflict.
James Chambers heads the powerful Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute. He says suing his industry for negligence is unfair and just another way for gun control advocates to try to bring the gun industry to its knees. To force every firearm manufacturer in this country to go out of business. Lawyers leading the negligence suits deny they're on a vendatta. They say they're searching for fairness given the terrible costs guns inflict on cities such as Washington.