Robert T Crook wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Robert T Crook <ccsct@erols.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 18, 2000 4:35 PM
> Subject: MA: Gun Dealer Woes
>
> > Only Smith & Wesson handguns meet state's specs
> > By Trudy Tynan, Associated Press, 4/18/2000 00:02
> >
>
http://www.boston.com/dailynews/109/economy/Only_Smith_Wesson_handguns_mee:.
> > shtml
> > SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) Gun dealers are clearing their shelves and some
> > gunmakers have been effectively shut out of the Massachusetts market as
> the
> > nation's toughest handgun safety regulations take effect.
> >
> > The only new handguns that can be sold here under the new consumer
> > protection regulations announced earlier this month are some models made
> by
> > Springfield-based Smith & Wesson.
> >
> > That means even the high-end models of Glocks and SIG-Sauers used by
> police
> > would not pass muster if they were being sold to the general public.
> >
> > ''It's killing the small dealers,'' said Vincent DelValle, manager of
> > Strictly Defense in West Springfield. ''We are stuck with thousands of
> > dollars in guns we can't sell.''
> >
> > The new rules ban cheap handguns and require childproof locks on any
> handgun
> > sold in the state. They also require safety warnings with each handgun,
> > tamper-resistent serial numbers and indicators on semiautomatic handguns
> > that tell if a bullet is in the chamber.
> >
> > Used handguns, police weapons and models made before September 1998 are
> > exempt from the regulations that went into effect after manufacturers,
> > including Smith & Wesson, lost a two-year court fight to stop them.
> >
> > Attorney General Thomas Reilly realizes many gun manufacturers don't meet
> > the regulations yet.
> >
> > ''It is our hope that all companies will comply,'' said Ann Donlan, a
> > spokeswoman for Reilly. ''But there is no going back as far as we are
> > concerned.''
> >
> > The other major gunmakers say they've been sidelined by such things as how
> > many serial numbers are now required on the weapon and the minimum force
> > needed to pull the trigger.
> >
> > ''It's in the details,'' said Gary Mehalik, marketing manager for
> > Miami-based Taurus, which has been selling pistols equipped with an
> internal
> > trigger lock since 1997. ''We are able to comply in most regards.''
> >
> > But Taurus, and Glock which makes the guns that Boston police carry and
> > SIG-Sauer which arms the state police have all run afoul of a requirement
> > that it take at least 10 pounds of force to pull the trigger.
> >
> > Some of Smith & Wesson's lighter guns, including its popular Sigma line,
> > also fail to meet the 10-pound pull test that is aimed at helping to
> prevent
> > a child from firing the weapon.
> >
> > In part because more women are buying guns, most guns are now sold with a
> > trigger pull of 4 to 6 pounds, with target pistols having pulls as light
> as
> > 2 pounds.
> >
> > Richard Callaghan, of Callaghan's Firearms in Marlboro, is one of several
> > gun dealers who have pulled all their new handguns off the shelves in
> > response to the new regulations.
> >
> > There may be some room for interpretation of the new regulations, but
> > Callaghan is taking no chances.
> >
> > ''I am not going to jeopardize my business and life savings for a fast
> > buck,'' he said.
> >
> > Paul Jannuzzo, a spokesman for Glock, said the company may send special
> > models to Massachusetts if distributors are interested.
> >
> > Beretta stopped shipment into Massachusetts for just one reason: Its guns
> do
> > not have a second hidden serial number.
> >
> > Paul Jannuzzo, a spokesman for Beretta USA, based in Accokeek, Md., said
> > Beretta had been trying to comply with requirements in the state's 1998
> gun
> > law, which are exceeded and superseded the new consumer protection
> > regulations.
> >
> > ''Unfortunately, everyone is styling themselves as experts in gun design
> and
> > we are on the brink of ending up with a confused mix of state, local and
> > federal laws,'' he said.
> >
> > The same week Massachusetts announced its new regulations, Maryland's
> > governor signed legislation requiring built-in locks on all new handguns
> > sold after January 2003.
> >
> > Even within Massachusetts things are getting confusing.
> >
> > Aides to Jane Perlov, the state's secretary of public safety, say Perlov
> is
> > drawing up her own list of acceptable weapons based on the less-stringent
> > provisions of the 1998 law. That could include guns that would not be
> > acceptable under the attorney general's new regulations.
> >
> > ''We took it a step further,'' said Donlan of the attorney general's
> > regulations. ''As far as we are concerned we have the law behind us and we
> > are going about the business of enforcing the consumer regulations.''
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ernest2's two cents worth......
Prehaps Sig Sauer has the right approach with their removable trigger group in the Pro Sig
Polymer Line.
Sig could build a Massivetwos~its trigger with a 37 pound pull and a coupon
in the pistol box for sending the pistol back to Sig for an upgrade, once the pistol is used.
The upgrade would replace the 37 pound
Massivetwosh~ts trigger with a standard Sig
2 pound trigger.
Or Sig could sell a standard trigger
group with instructions for the owner to upgrade to the (custom trigger; the once upon a time standard trigger group.)
Firearm mfg for the Massivetwoshi~s market will need to provide easily changeable
trigger group modules which owners can change
out to something shootable.
They should also make the magazine disconecter easily removable once the hand
gun becomes used.
The Massivetwoshi~s parts could be saved and reinstalled before again selling the handgun as a used gun so as to comtinue to
comply with Massivetwo*hits law
------------------
GUN CONTROL puts THE CONTROL
in the hands of THE CRIMINALS.
--------------------------------------------
In 2000, we must become politically active in
support of gun rights or we WILL LOSE the right
& the freedom.
-------------------------
NO FATE BUT WHAT WE MAKE!!!
----------------------
Every year,over 2 million Americans use firearms
not to take live but to preserve life,....limb & family
.Gun Control Democrats would prefer that they are all disarmed
and helpless and die victims of felony violence,instead.
Protect your gun rights, go to:
http://home.xnet.com/~gizmonic/TheMarch.html
and sign up as a helper or attendee or state organizer.
ernest2, Conn. CAN opp. "Do What You Can"!
http://thematrix.acmecity.com/digital/237/cansite/can.html
[This message has been edited by ernest2 (edited April 21, 2000).]