Unintended Consequence of Child proof handgun

[dZ]

e. Child safety. Within 12 months of execution of the Agreement,
each firearm shall be designed so that it cannot be readily
operated by a child under the age of 6. Such mechanisms
include: making the trigger pull resistance at least ten pounds in
the double action mode; or designing the firing mechanism so
that an average five year old’s hands would be too small to
operate the gun; or requiring multiple, sequenced actions in order
to fire the gun.


Children are curious and will attempt nearly anything in order to solve a puzzle.

If the new "safer" guns have 10 pound triggers to prevent a child from pulling the trigger, then children will attempt to pull the trigger in non conventional ways.

Wrap both thumbs though the guard and your grip strength is increased greatly.

One problem, the muzzle is now pointed at your head...

dZ

[This message has been edited by dZ (edited March 23, 2000).]

 

[FUD]

Good Point. VERY Good Point. The best way to protect our children is to properly educate them about firearm safety. My wife's uncle (may he rest in peace) had close to 30 loaded firearms all around the house and half a dozen little children running around the place. However, they were told that guns were not a toy and they were not allowed to touch them AND they listened. While I don't go to that extreme and leave my firearms out in the open (unless it is on my person, my firearms are properly secured), it does illustrate the point that education is the key to protecting our children from gun accidents.

Share what you know, learn what you don't

 

[JimDiver]

I noticed this too. I called Rep. Tom Campbell's office. They did not notice this at all and are now looking at it very closely. As part of an experiment, I called Fiensiten's office and told them the same thing. I was promptly called an NRA whacko and hung up on.

I also called a local talk show and informed them of this too... the host was shocked that S&W didn't notice this at all.

The second clause of the child safety thing scared me too. "designing the firing mechanism so that an average five year old's hands would be too small to operate the gun" is INSANE!!! What's the kid gonna do? Place the gun on the floor, muzzle pointing up, place a rod or pen on the trigger, and lean into it from above... result? BANG!! Gaping hole in the chest if loaded.

I am really disapointed that S&W didn't see this before they signed the agreement. Granted most DA revolvers are about 20 lbs in DA mode, but still....

I wonder, how much do these gun comapanies spend a year in research into kids and guns? If I was CEO of S&W I would want to take a dummy gun, with the settlement's terms, and a kid into a room and watch the kid work the "child resistant" things over.


Rember what happened when drug companies started putting prescription drugs into "child proof" bottles? Instantly, the number of accidental drug overdoseings by kids shot up throught the roof.

This will be another case of people who do not study history are doomed to repeat it.

"Danny! Come over here and help grand-pa open this pill bottle"

"Danny! Come over here and help grand-pa unlock this gun!"

Only a child will be able to use these new "child proof" guns. Mark my words.