With all the Republican White House's posturing as the supposed iron fist that will crush terror threats in their nascency, critics are curious to know how Congress could consider allowing the gun industry less culpability - particularly when not even a month has passed since the Government Accountability Office released a report showing at least 36 people on the Administration's "terrorist watch list" have legally purchased firearms on U.S. soil.

Introduced by Republican Sen. Larry Craig, the new gun bill would immunize gun manufacturers and dealers from any sort of lawsuit, except where they've knowingly broken a law. The bill would also leave the authority of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives hugely reduced. Coming hot on the heels of the GAO's report, the gun control set says the bill's discussion shows how far the Republicans are willing to bend over for their friends in the NRA and the big-money gun business.

» Scott Saxon