The
photo shows George Bush signing the portentously named but no less pernicious
Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Bill of 2005. The law gave the gun industry -- manufacturers, distributors, dealers, and trade associations -- blanket immunity from civil legal actions intended to hold them accountable for having maximized the availability of guns, regardless of consequences. For current political purposes, note Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell smirking as the bill is signed. 2005 was probably the peak of the Bush madness --he's been reelected and Iraq was not yet obviously a disaster -- but we're still stuck with the legislation rammed through in those political bubble years.
