The near-daily new revelations of Toyota automobiles hurtling out of control for no apparent reason bring up an interesting question. I can't help but speculate about the public reaction if something analogous were happening with a major gun maker's products.
Can you imagine the outrage if (say) several models of Smith and Wesson's semi-automatic pistols and their semi-automatic M&P 15 rifle (a dreaded "assault weapon") gained a reputation for spontaneously firing on their own?
The news would be dominated by breathless reports of "terrifying storms of armor-piercing bullets," the Brady Campaign would be screaming about the evils of "any gun, anywhere, any time," and gun prohibitionist extremist politicians like U.S. Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Representative Mark Kirk (R-IL) would be drafting legislation to ban as many guns as they could.
The 20,000+ gun laws on the books in the U.S. would soon be getting a lot of new friends.
Ironically, the VIolence Policy Center's Josh Sugarmann claims that the U.S. gun industry is unregulated.
If a manufacturer develops a handgun for the civilian market that can pierce the bullet-resistent vests worn by law enforcement (e.g., the Smith & Wesson Model 500 50 caliber revolver) or down an aircraft on take-off or landing (e.g., the Barrett 50 BMG sniper rifle as seen below) there's nothing ATF can do about it.
Sugarmann is, of course not talking about dangerous malfunctions (and possible criminal malfeasance?), as in Toyota's case--he is instead referring to capabilities that he does not believe private citizens should have access to. Blogger Thirdpower found a 1999 opinion piece by Sugarmann that explained what Sugarmann thought would be the first rational act by the firearms regulatory agency (with even more power than the BATFE) he dreams of:
A gun-control movement worthy of the name would insist that President Clinton move beyond his proposals for controls -- such as expanding background checks at gun shows and stopping the import of high-capacity magazines -- and immediately call on Congress to pass far-reaching industry regulation like the Firearms Safety and Consumer Protection Act introduced by Senator Robert Torricelli, Democrat of New Jersey, and Representative Patrick Kennedy, Democrat of Rhode Island. Their measure would give the Treasury Department health and safety authority over the gun industry, and any rational regulator with that authority would ban handguns.
Sugarmann wouldn't stop at banning handguns, though. The VPC's efforts to ban so-called "assault weapons" and .50 caliber rifles are well known. They would also ban accurate rifles of less than .50 caliber. One wonders, indeed, what firearms Sugarmann would not want banned.
Back when Sugarmann's "last unregulated industry" piece came out, I pointed out a curious statement of his.
Yet these are sales standards, not product safety standards.
That's what he said about the tens of thousands of firearms laws in this country. If they aren't for "safety," what are they for, Josh?
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Comments
Another great article, Kurt!
What's great is that Ruger and S&W have had large-scale recalls of products (There was one for the S&W1911, also the Walther PPK) and Ruger's recall of the LCP and SR9 Pistols is pretty well known.
I'm pretty sure all of the recalls were in relation to the drop-safety of the guns. Also, while I'm unsure of the number of affected 1911s, and SR9s, the number of PPKs and LCPs sold was quite a large amount. As far as I know (and certainly what Ruger, S&W, and the Media is telling me) there have been ZERO accidents or incidents of the guns in question performing in any way but as advertised.
I'm sure there are other recall stories, tho I can't think of any gun available on the modern market that is actually unsafe if used properly.
And of course NOTHING is safe if used properly...or even if used conventionally. Ever read a box of Q-tips or other "Cotton Swab"? They tell you not to clean your ears with them!
I'm going to state the obvious here, Josh Sugarman is an idiot of the highest order right up there with Paul Helmkie. These are the sort of people that sue McDonalds because their coffee is hot!
‘Every shooting is legally actionable’ and ‘every municipality needs independent legal council’.
In those periods when the legal leeches aren’t plundering money from the public coffers while providing their valuable services for such lucrative functions as representing municipalities in firearms-related lawsuits, or suing some corporation or business owner under the guise of negligence when a GUN CRIME occurs on business property, there’s always money available to be extorted out of a homeowner’s insurance company in out-of-court-settlements when a firearm is used for defensive purposes.
(one reason there's always extensive opposition from the leeches to 'Castle Doctrine' bills. If the defender is found immune from prosecution, the suing party is liable for all expenses.)
Be an interesting expose' to see some figures on how much money taxpayers have been bilked and how much various insurance companies have raised their rates on policyholders to cover the increase in payouts.
My .458 pistol loads make .500 S&W cry. So do my .452s and .375s (NOT a typo). There's nothing magical about a half inch bore unless you work for a moron or are a MORON. Last LEO aircraft shot down by gunfire was a Cali State cop helio, EONS AGO, with a surplus .303 SMLE. More aircraft have been brought down in the USA by laser pointers, no joke, than small arms fire.
I will make it short and sweet Josh Sugarman is notthing more then a left wing communist pinkco hippie
that smokes too much pot.
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