Irish Examiner view: Payout is a wake-up call for US gun industry

Remington paid $73m to the families of the 26 victims who died in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012

A photo of Daniel Barden, who was killed in the Sandy Hook shooting, is projected on a screen behind attorney Josh Koskoff during a news conference in Trumbull, Connecticut after the settlement. Picture: Seth Wenig/AP

The US is the only country in the world where civilian guns outnumber people. Americans represent around 5% of the world’s population but have 42% of the world’s privately owned firearms. Various attempts have been made over the years to restrict the number and use of private firearms through legislation and information campaigns but Americans have fought against it.

That may be about to change following a huge payout by gunmaker Remington to the families of children and staff killed in an elementary school massacre 10 years ago.