Sanders upsets families in Newtown wrongful death lawsuit

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont clashed over legislation that allows victims of gun violence to sue firearms manufacturers during a CNN Democratic presidential debate Sunday, March 6, 2016. Still photo from CNN broadcast. less Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont clashed over legislation that allows victims of gun violence to sue firearms manufacturers during a CNN Democratic presidential ... more Photo: Contributed Photo / Still Photo CNN Photo: Contributed Photo / Still Photo CNN Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Sanders upsets families in Newtown wrongful death lawsuit 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Bernie Sanders’ stock is tanking among families of Sandy Hook Elementary School victims after the Democratic presidential hopeful stood by a law that shields firearms manufacturers from wrongful death lawsuits.

During a CNN debate Sunday night in Flint, Mich., against Hillary Clinton, Sanders was asked whether Remington, the maker of the Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifle used to kill 20 first-graders and six educators in Newtown, should be held liable for one of the worst school shootings in the nation’s history.

Sanders defended a 2005 law that gives gun companies immunity from such lawsuits, including Remington, which was sued by families of 10 of the 26 victims in the 2012 shooting.

“If you go to a gun store and you legally purchase a gun, and then, three days later, if you go out and start killing people, is the point of this lawsuit to hold the gun shop owner or the manufacturer of that gun liable?” Sanders said. “If that is the point, I have to tell you I disagree.”

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