LIABILITY BILL WOULD SHIELD GUN MAKERS HOUSE READY TO VOTE TODAY; BUSH'S SIGNATURE ASSURED.

Byline: Lisa Friedman Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - In a move likely to wipe out a lawsuit by victims of a 1999 San Fernando Valley shooting spree, the House of Representatives is expected today to pass a bill immunizing gun manufacturers from liability in such incidents.

The Senate approved an identical version of the measure in July, so the bill will head directly to President George W. Bush after the House vote. His signature is virtually guaranteed.

For the San Fernando Valley families suing the makers of the short-barreled Norinco 9 mm rifle that avowed white supremacist Buford O. Furrow Jr. used to wound five people at the North Valley Jewish Community Center - and the Glock 9 mm semiautomatic pistol he later used to kill a postal worker in Chatsworth - Congress' actions are a slap in the face, their lawyers said Wednesday.

``Our clients have their right to their day in court, and this bill is trying to take it away from them,'' said Joshua Horwitz, executive director of the Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence and an attorney for the families.

The Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act would shield firearm manufacturers and dealers from liability lawsuits as long as they do not make defective products or sell them illegally. It also calls for the immediate dismissal of all pending actions.

Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Sherman Oaks, said he intends to vote against the measure. ``This bill is clearly designed to throw Furrow's victims out of court,'' he said.

Charles Dick, who represents China North Industries Corp., one of the defendants in the community center suit, said once the bill is enacted into law, he will ask the court to dismiss the case against his client ``as expeditiously as possible.''

``I think it certainly is a tragedy in Los Angeles,'' Dick said. But, he added, ``Lawsuits are not intended to be the solution to all of society's problems, and this is a lawsuit that never should have been brought in the first place.''

The suit was brought by the families of Joseph Ileto, the postal worker from Chino Hills whom Furrow killed because, as he told authorities, the mail carrier didn't look white; and the families of wounded children Ben Kadish, Joshua Stepakoff, James Zidell and Mindy Finkelstein.

Attorneys for the families said they intend to continue pursuing the suit even if the measure becomes law, and will fight the legislation as unconstitutional.

Their suit claims that firearms manufacturers give criminals like Furrow easy access to deadly products by distributing them through channels that they know regularly provide guns to unlawful users.

``There's an overproduction of guns with the intent of getting them into the hands of people who will kill, because that's good for business,'' said attorney Ray Boucher, also representing the community center families.

The bill, he said, ``has roots in a racist mentality that pervades the gun industry.''

Rep. Gary Miller, R-Diamond Bar, who represents Ileto's home town, said he intends to vote in favor of the gun liability shield.

``The concept that a manufacturer manufactures a gun and somebody breaks a law and uses it in an illegal fashion - why should the manufacturer be held liable? Where does it stop?'' Miller said.

Noting that more than 20,000 gun laws already exist, Miller said, ``Let's punish criminals, not business people.''

Added National Rifle Association spokesman Andrew Arulanandam, ``There is no other industry that is forced to defend itself when a violent criminal unknown to the industry misuses a legal, nondefective product.''

Lisa Friedman, [phone]

lisa.friedman(at)langnews.com