Extend the Dram Shop Acts instead of legislating Red Flag Laws

[Right_in_Virginia]

Extend the Dram Shop Acts instead of legislating Red Flag Laws
American Thinker, Aug 11, 2019, Lynne Lechter

There is a far simpler solution in combatting domestic terrorists than wading into the complexities, fears, and tortuous political debate of enacting and monitoring Red Flag Laws.

Concerns over invasion of privacy, violation of extant laws, inconsistent application, and political weaponization by an already too-powerful government agency, for example, are valid and deep-seated reactions to red flag laws.

Instead of creating another political quagmire, we can utilize a tested, far less-controversial solution by expanding existing Dram Shop laws.

Dram Shop laws currently exist in 43 of the 50 United States. [...]

Essentially, these laws allow for a victim, and/or their relatives, to sue third parties to the accident: bartenders who serve alcohol to a visibility intoxicated customer; a parent who permits underage drinking at a house party; and, others who knowingly allow an inebriated driver to drive. 

The aftermath to the recent spate of domestic mass massacres, as well as to previous attacks, all followed a dreary script.  Multiple accounts of known aberrant behavior, frequent social media-posted threats, aggressive personal relations,  botched dates, previous encounters with law enforcement, high school grapevines, open boasting of future crimes and parental a priori reporting of unheeded appeals for help were repetitively and mindlessly recounted , as we helpless, mournfully shaken bystanders  collectively pondered the inanity of the seemingly preventable tragedies.   

Also, the politicization of these horrible attacks must end.  If anyone is to blame, we all are. We can be silent bystanders no longer.  The troubled kid must be reported by teachers, friends and parents alike.  Each report must be followed by an investigation and in person interview of all suspected terrorists.   

In-the know students and casual acquaintances heretofore were reticent to report suspected fellow student terrorists. Under extended Dram Shop Acts they could be sued if they don’t.  The same civil liability will attach to informed teachers and editors, patents and extended family members, social   media followers and police who don’t follow-up reports of potential terrorists.


More:  https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2019/08/extend_the_dram_shop_acts_instead_of_legislating_red_flag_laws_.html

[Bill Cipher]

You do realize that if passed, these laws will almost certainly apply to the manufacturers, and they’ll close up shop rather than be bankrupted.

[Right_in_Virginia]

There'd need to be a carve-out for gun manufacturers --- but is this at all reasonable? 

[Right_in_Virginia]

You do realize that if passed, these laws will almost certainly apply to the manufacturers, and they’ll close up shop rather than be bankrupted.

I realized that and posted there would need to be a carve out for gun manufacturers.  But if they are carved out ... is this a reasonable and workable alternative to new red flag laws? @Bill Cipher

[Bill Cipher]

I realized that and posted there would need to be a carve out for gun manufacturers.  But if they are carved out ... is this a reasonable and workable alternative to new red flag laws? @Bill Cipher

Why should they be carved out?  They provided the means without which the deaths wouldn’t have happened in the first place.