Bush seeks protection for gun dealers

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President Bush urged the Senate to pass a bill that would protect gun dealers and manufacturers from frivolous lawsuits but without any amendments that would extend the assault-weapons ban or close gun-show loopholes.

"The administration urges the Senate to pass a clean bill, in order to ensure enactment of the legislation this year," the president said in a statement released late Tuesday. "Any amendment that would delay enactment of the bill beyond this year is unacceptable."

The legislation aims to protect gun makers and dealers from lawsuits that blame them for criminal acts by persons using their guns. The bill, if passed, would be retroactive and thus affect litigation in progress.

The president softened his stance on the gun-show loophole, which allows unlicensed dealers to sell guns without thorough background checks, and on the assault-weapons ban, since last week, when he said he supported those measures.

That stance irked Senate Democrats, who accused Mr. Bush of reneging on a promise to the American people and turning his back on his allies in the Senate.

"If we can't amend this bill, we don't have another vehicle," said Sen. Charles E. Schumer, New York Democrat. "In effect, the president is breaking a promise he made to the American people."

White House spokeswoman Clare Buchan said the president hasn't changed his position on any of the gun-related issues but doesn't want the lawsuit-protection bill to fail because of amendments.

But Mr. Schumer said the Bush statement will lead at least 10 or 12 senators to shift their votes and oppose the assault-weapons and gun-show amendments.

"For the president to say he is for the assault-weapons ban and then act against it, well that is a flip-flop if I ever saw one," Mr. Schumer said.