American Notes GUN CONTROL

Since New Year's Day, Washington has seen 55 murders, and City Council Chairman David Clarke has proposed a radical solution to the wave of homicides. Last week he introduced a bill that would further strengthen the city's tough gun-control laws by extending a legal doctrine called "strict liability" to firearms. The law would classify guns as inherently dangerous products whose manufacturers and distributors can be held financially liable for damages caused by their use -- prompting gun dealers to try to keep their wares out of the wrong hands. The statute, says Clarke, "will attempt to do through the handgun industry's pocketbooks what has not been done through their consciences."

Since twelve of the 13 council members support the proposal, it should pass easily. But the National Rifle Association plans to use its lobbying muscle to persuade Congress, which can overrule the council's decisions, to shoot down Clarke's plan. "It's another attempt by the D.C. government to put the blame on somebody else for its failure to deal with violent crime," says N.R.A. assistant general counsel Richard Gardiner. A veto is no cinch: only twice in the past 14 years has Congress vetoed a law enacted by the district.