Latest news with #SIGSauer
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
SIG Sauer immunity bill clears House, heads to Ayotte
A controversial bill giving limited immunity from liability to SIG Sauer and other New Hampshire gunmakers over optional features regarding their weapons is headed to the desk of Gov. Kelly Ayotte. House embraces legal immunity for SIG Sauer over pistol lawsuits House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee Chairman Terry Roy, R-Deerfield, spoke in support of a Senate-passed amendment to give gun makers in the state limited immunity from lawsuits over optional features. A spate of lawsuits across the country against SIG Sauer and its P320 pistol sparked this bill to protect a major employer in the state. After a brief debate Thursday, the House of Representatives embraced by a 200-161 vote a Senate amendment that only surfaced publicly two weeks ago and has never faced a public hearing. The vote came after more than two dozen law enforcement officials from across the country had urged the House to turn aside the proposal given their involvement in dealing with SIG Sauer's P320 pistol that has resulted in 82 lawsuits filed in federal courts here. A group of 22 gun owners brought suits over the pistol last month. 'This has everything to do with a powerful company in denial with a defect on a key piece of their property,' said state Rep. David Meuse, D-Portsmouth, speaking in opposition. Rep. Terry Roy, R-Deerfield and chairman of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, said many of the lawsuits came from opponents of gun owners that wanted to create legal problems for a prominent gun maker. 'At the end of the day this isn't about gun rights, this is about product liability,' Roy said. ''Do you want people to be able to sue carmakers over cars that don't have air conditioning?' During an interview, Roy stressed that while the SIG Sauer pistol spawned the legislation, it applies to all companies. 'I don't want to pass something that only affects one company, but this does not. It really seemed like the trial lawyers seized on a few cases of officers getting hurt with the weapon and that caused this avalanche of lawsuits because the gun has no safety. Well, if you order the pistol to have one, it will. If you don't, why should you be able to recover in court?' Roy said. The state Senate earlier this month approved the measure on a partisan, 16-8 vote with all Republicans in support and all Democrats against it. The House vote Thursday was similarly partisan with Republicans backing it, 197-1, while Democrats opposed it, 159-2. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Bill Gannon, R-Sandown, said the immunity was limited to optional features of the weapon and would not prevent a lawsuit over any gun's manufacturing defect. Gannon's amendment specifically exempts gunmakers from liability claims over the 'absence or presence' of items such as a magazine disconnect mechanism, a loaded chamber indicator, authorized user recognition (such as fingerprint) technology or an external mechanical safety. The change was added to a popular House-passed bill (HB 551) that would eliminate a license needed to sell handguns. What's Next: It will likely take a few weeks for final processing of the bill to get to the desk of Gov. Ayotte who has yet to take a public position. Prospects: Likely to sign. As a former attorney general, Ayotte would likely have raised concerns even privately with legislators and key supporters said she has not. .klandrigan@
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Law enforcement leaders urge House to reject SIG Sauer immunity
Twenty-five law enforcement leaders from across the country are urging the New Hampshire House of Representatives to reject a Senate-passed bill that would grant gunmaker SIG Sauer immunity from liability regarding a P320 pistol that's been the topic of hundreds of lawsuits. Concord lawyer and former Supreme Court Justice Chuck Douglas is representing the group after he had originally launched a federal class-action suit regarding allegations that the pistol didn't function properly. 'Granting any community immunity is a pretty rare occurrence because the net result of it is to close the courthouse door,' Douglas said. A federal judge denied the class-action suit and instructed Douglas to file individual cases against the gun manufacturer. To date, there have been 120 such cases brought in the Granite State over the P320, Douglas said. At issue is the P320's lack of a mechanical safety on many versions. Plaintiffs have claimed that without a safety, the pistol has a tendency to fire on its own. SIG Sauer has contended that the lack of a safety is a known feature of the P320 and that user error is responsible for the shootings. The legislation exempts gunmakers from liability for the "absence or presence" of a safety or other features. In an op-ed provided to the Union Leader, law enforcement officials contend the pistol has been 'mired in controversy' since its introduction in 2014. The signers included police officials from 14 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The suits alleged that after a misfiring problem was discovered, SIG Sauer changed the pistols supplied in a Department of Defense contract for the military but continued selling what the suit claimed were 'defective' guns for months until a national gun retailer notified the national media. 'In conclusion, we urge lawmakers to reject proposals that seek to grant immunity based on a single manufacturer's request and based on a single gun — the P320 pistol — that has placed law enforcement officers and the general public at risk and unnecessarily harmed many,' the police officials said. 'By opposing immunity for SIG Sauer, we in law enforcement uphold our duty to protect and serve, both on the streets and in our communities." Proposal emerged without public hearing Robert Zimmerman was the lead lawyer who sued SIG Sauer and won a judgment in Pennsylvania. 'SIG Sauer should focus on changing the defective design of its P320. Instead, SIG Sauer is paying lobbyists to change New Hampshire law to deprive local, state and federal law enforcement officers and private gun owners from having their day in court and to hold SIG Sauer accountable for their serious injuries,' Zimmerman said in a statement. 'Injured law enforcement officers are the ones most disproportionately harmed by SIG Sauer's attempt to change the law to give itself immunity; that is simply un-American.' The state Senate earlier this month approved the measure on a 16-8 party-line vote, with all Republicans in support and all Democrats against it. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Bill Gannon, R-Sandown, said the immunity was limited to optional features of the weapon and would not prevent a lawsuit over any gun's manufacturing defect. Gannon's amendment specifically exempts gunmakers from liability claims over the 'absence or presence' of items such as a magazine disconnect mechanism, a loaded chamber indicator, authorized user recognition (such as fingerprint) technology or an external mechanical safety. 'You loaded the weapon. It must have some kind of warning that it has been loaded or the company could be sued — does that make any sense?' asked Sen. Daryl Abbas, R-Salem, who is a criminal defense lawyer. Gannon brought the proposal before the full Senate as a floor amendment that never had a public hearing. The change was added to a popular House-passed bill (HB 551) that would eliminate a license needed to sell handguns. +++ What's Next: The House of Representatives will consider in the coming week or so whether to agree with the amendment, reject it and seek a conference committee to resolve differences with the Senate or kill the bill outright. Prospects: Hard to tell. The House has a very strong contingent of pro-gun-rights legislators but in the past has been loath to support other legislation to grant sweeping immunity from liability for other industries. klandrigan@
Epoch Times
13-05-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
SIG Sauer XM7 Rifle Faces an Uncertain Future With the US Army
Commentary The Swiss-German firm (As a personal side note, I myself carried a .40 caliber SIG's relationship with the U.S. military began in 1989, when the elite Not content to rest on those laurels, SIG also set it sights on the U.S. military rifle contract, looking to replace the venerable M16/AR-15/M4 infantry rifle series, which in one variant or another has Enter the XM7 The XM7 was designed in 2019 and entered into production phase in 2022. Under the rubric of the U.S. Army's The weapon is chambered for the XM7 Specifications Among the tech specs and 'vital stats' (so to speak) of the XM7: Mass: 8.38 lb. (3.80 kg); 9.84 lb. (4.46 kg) with sound suppressor attached Overall length: 36 in (914 mm) with suppressor Barrel length: 13 in (330 mm) Muzzle velocity: 915 m/s (3,002 ft/s) Trouble in Paradise? In March 2024, the 1st Battalion, Related Stories 5/9/2025 5/6/2025 As noted by Peter Suciu 'While speaking at the recent Modern Day Marine exhibition in Washington, D.C., Captain Braden Trent, U.S. Army, presented evidence gathered on the XM7 and offered the very blunt conclusion that it is 'unfit for use as a modern service rifle.'… According to Trent, the XM7 suffered from several serious issues, which caused questions about its reliability. The officer's 52-page report noted that among the shortcomings is the 20-round magazine, which limits the amount of ammunition a soldier can carry. At the same time, it is heavier than the M4 without any notable benefits. Testing also found that the military drills occurred where a potential adversary was within 300 meters, which negated the XM7's longer-range accuracy. In addition, the barrel was found to have excess wear after just 2,000 rounds were fired.' P320 Pistol Controversies As if that weren't enough of a public relations nightmare for SIG Sauer, they're also contending with a spate of horror stories about the aforementioned P320 pistol being Time will tell how SIG Sauer weathers these twin storms. But then again, they've survived for 172 years, and they wouldn't have made it this far if they lacked the ability to fix problems and bounce back from adversity. Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate approves liability protection for gun makers
At the behest from supporters of New Hampshire gun maker SIG Sauer, the state Senate approved legislation Thursday that would block future liability lawsuits in state courts over malfunctioning guns that lack optional features. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Bill Gannon, R-Sandown, said SIG Sauer is one of the state's leading employers and shouldn't face lawsuits over injuries suffered because gun owners didn't realize their weapons lacked specific attachments. 'We shouldn't think of 100 different scenarios; if they are making a good product and it's safe we shouldn't let people sue them for misapplication or the right of people to not want certain items on the gun,' Gannon said. The legislation would not apply to suits already filed, and Gannon stressed it would not prohibit any liability lawsuit brought over a gun's manufacturing defect. Sen. Tara Reardon, D-Concord, said the Legislature shouldn't insert itself in an ongoing national legal dispute involving a popular SIG pistol. 'Plaintiffs nationwide including law enforcement have filed suit on this. Guns are inherently dangerous goods,' Reardon said. 'I agree SIG Sauer is a wonderful New Hampshire employer but this is no way to address a product's liability issue.' The lawsuits involve SIG's P320 pistol, which plaintiffs contend can fire unintentionally without a trigger pull, leading to injuries. The Senate voted 16-8 to add the amendment to a popular House-passed bill (HB 551) for Second Amendment supporters that would eliminate a license needed to sell handguns. All Senate Republicans backed the amendment, while all Democrats opposed it. The House passed the latter bill about pistols on a voice vote in March. Gannon's amendment specifically exempts gunmakers from liability claims over the "absence or presence" of items such as a magazine disconnect mechanism, a loaded chamber indicator, authorized user recognition (such as fingerprint) technology or an external mechanical safety. Sen. Daryl Abbas, R-Salem, said people living outside the state are bringing lawsuits in New Hampshire against SIG Sauer over this issue. 'You loaded the weapon. It must have some kind of warning that it has been loaded or the company could be sued — does that make any sense?' Abbas said. 'This is an attack on a New Hampshire company. We should support New Hampshire businesses. Let's adopt this amendment.' Sen. Victoria Sullivan, R-Manchester, who also supported the change, is a licensed firearms instructor. 'You are the safety device for that weapon. These are mechanical instruments that can fail. It is your responsibility as a firearms owner to know your firearm, that's all this bill is saying,' Sullivan said. Senate Democratic Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka of Portsmouth, who opposed the proposal, said businesses must design what they sell in a way that can withstand legal challenges. 'If you are going to design a product you should stand beyond that product. As a state government, we should get out of the way and let our businesses be run," Perkins Kwoka said. +++ What's Next: The bill heads back to the House of Representatives, which must decide whether to support the amendment to a bill it badly wants. Prospects: Second Amendment forces are strong in the House, which makes entirely possible that the membership will accept this compromise and send it on to Gov. Kelly Ayotte. klandrigan@
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
SIG P320 engineering review recommended in Marine Corps report
On January 19, 2017, the U.S. Army announced SIG Sauer's P320 variant as the winner of the Modular Handgun System trials. The full-size and compact variants were adopted as the M17 and M18, respectively, by the Army. In 2019, the Marine Corps ordered the M18 and began equipping Marines across the fleet with the new pistol. On February 14, 2023, an incident occurred aboard Camp Foster, Okinawa, involving a Marine-issued M18. New Hampshire Public Radio acquired the investigation report, released April 4, 2023, via a Freedom of Information Act request. The report notes that Person 1 (P1) was issued an M18 with two 17-round magazines; one magazine was inserted into the pistol, a round was chambered, the safety was engaged, and the M18 was holstered with the cover rotated over it. These actions were witnessed by Person 3 (P3). Along with Person 2 (P2), P1 and P3 proceeded to Gate 1 for guard duty. For nearly five hours, P1 and P2 rotated standing at the ID checkpoint until 10:00AM when P1's M18 discharged while standing at the checkpoint. P2's statement notes that P2 was in the guard shack and heard a loud noise. Upon exiting, P2 found P1 shaking and nervous. P2 asked what happened and P1 responded that the M18 discharged. After checking to see that P1 was ok, P2 visually checked with P1 that the M18 was on safe and called to report the incident. P1's holster was damaged when the M18 discharged. The Marine Corps report noted that P1 completed classroom training and hands-on training for the M18 at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, on November 8, 2021, with the most recent training on August 30, 2022. Furthermore, the maintenance record of the M18 showed that it passed inspection and was found to be serviceable on November 22, 2022. A subsequent inspection after the discharge incident also found the pistol to be serviceable. At the time of the incident, P1 had 7 years and 11 months as a Japanese Security Guard while P2 and P3 had 20 years and 13 years and 2 months of experience, respectively. The report also notes that P1 was not taking medication, did not drink alcohol, and was well-rested the night before the incident. After reviewing security camera video footage, the Marine Corps investigator concluded that P1 did not mishandle the M18 prior to the discharge. From the evidence and statements of the people involved, the investigation concludes that the M18 was on safe and secured in the holster. As a result, the investigator recommended that an engineering review of the M18 be conducted. On March 7, 2025, SIG Sauer released a statement affirming, 'The P320 CANNOT, under any circumstances, discharge without a trigger pull – that is a fact. The allegations against the P320 are nothing more than individuals seeking to profit or avoid personal responsibility.' Additionally, the Marine Corps investigator recommended that the policy on weapon condition status be reviewed. Rather than having the M18 in condition 1 with a round chambered and the safety on, the investigator recommends that condition 3 with a magazine inserted but no round chambered be employed during lower Force Protection Condition levels. This reduced level of readiness would be in contrast to the Marine Corps policy utilized for the M9 and M45A1 pistols which called for them to have a round chambered and safety engaged when being carried by Marines and civilian law enforcement and security personnel.
