Alphecca: NY Times on Trigger Locks

July 07, 2006

NY Times on Trigger Locks

I have nothing against trigger locks being sold with guns as long as such locks are not integrated into the firearm. Simply including a cable-lock or what have you is fine. Even good for those who desire to (or should, if they have young kids) use them. Naturally, though, when Congress scrapped this provision the other day, the New York Times went ballistic:

Childproof trigger locks on handguns should rank somewhere near mom and apple pie as a measure of the nation's wholesome dedication to life. But not in the House of Representatives, where the gun lobby cowed lawmakers into actually barring the use of federal funds to enforce an existing law that requires child trigger locks to be sold with all handguns. This late-night treachery just before the July 4 recess means that federal agents will not have the resources to confront one of the deadliest facts of American family life: 10 young people die each day in gun homicides, suicides and accidents.

Including trigger locks shouldn't be a "federal issue" to begin with. Most respectable gun makers already include such devices but how would mandating such somehow prevent homicides and suicides? And how are trigger locks "a resource" to federal agents? What the hell is this editorial writer going on about?

Colorado Rep. Carolyn Musgrave is discussed scornfully by the Times but in reality, she makes a very important point often lost on liberals:

"Many things around the home are dangerous when used without proper instructions or supervision," Ms. Musgrave said. "But it is not the government's job or responsibility to mandate every conceivable protective mechanism imaginable."

Ayup.

Posted by Jeff Soyer at July 7, 2006 04:51 PM

Comments

"But it is not the government's job or responsibility to mandate every conceivable protective mechanism imaginable."

Yes, indeed.

OTOH, lots of things come with anti-lawsuit warning labels ("Warning - when in use stove's burners get hot and can cause burns if touched") so how about a label for guns "Warning - improper use of this tool or its components may cause injury or fatality" - except that sometimes proper use can do the same. Still, cheapo wayout of at least some silliness.

Posted by: teqjack at July 7, 2006 04:58 PM

"I have nothing against locks being sold with guns..."

Fine.

Except it's *MANDATORY*.

That's the problem.

"Shut up, be happy. The conveniences you demanded are now mandatory."
--Jello Biafra

Posted by: anonymous at July 8, 2006 01:22 AM

notice that they have moved on from claiming "10 children" to "10 young people"?

And spcifying it is homicides, suicides and accidents instead of just accidents?

Truth is having an effect even on the critters infesting Pravda on the Hudson.

Just keep hammering them with the truth and even they have to notice sooner or later.

Posted by: tomWright at July 8, 2006 06:23 AM

"10 young people die each day in gun homicides, suicides and accidents"

These stats are misleading. How many of these 10 young people were teenage (or even pre-teen) gang members committing crimes, getting in shoot outs, etc? The real problem in that case is kids growing up with no real parental involvement/supervision. But of course if the guns are off the street, these would all be choir boys.....

I would be very surprised to find that there was even one case a day where a child truly found a gun by accident in a home and said "hey cool" and started to play with it and shot themselves or a friend.

The whole gun control thing is like treating a symptom of a disease with pain killers, while letting the body die comfortably. You have to treat the root of the problem. Unfortunately, government can't fix the home. Ultimately, only individual parents can do that in their own homes.

Posted by: Paul S at July 9, 2006 08:57 AM

I don't see how childproof trigger locks on my guns are going to help protect any children.

If any children are in my house and have my guns in hand, that means they broke in and broke into my gun safe. At which point, well, they could probably manage to remove a trigger lock, or shoot themselves with it on, since that's evidently a common failure mode of such devices.

I do feel so much safer knowing the Times is looking out for me, though. Really.

Posted by: Sigivald at July 11, 2006 04:34 PM

teqjack,

In response to your comment:

"how about a label for guns "Warning - improper use of this tool or its components may cause injury or fatality"

This is just stupid on its face. OF COURSE a gun is dangerous! If it is not dangerous, it's not working properly!

OK, for those that have trouble with these things here goes:

Guns are dangerous.
Knives are sharp.
Fire is hot.
Water is wet.
Ice is cold.
Poison should NOT be ingested.
and one should NOT hit one's self in the head with a tack hammer.

There, that should cover it for a while.

Feel free to post this at DU or the daily KOS as they may be un-aware of these important safety tips.

Posted by: 1894C at July 12, 2006 06:27 PM

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July 07, 2006

NY Times on Trigger Locks

By Golly, you're reading an archived post. Click Here to head to the main page and read current stuff...

Check it out:

My group sci-fi blog novel:

Colony: Alchibah