Guns Rights Zealots--Shoot Down this Idea

[InTheLight]

Here's a proposal to attempt to reduce the number of mass murders committed with guns.

Pass a law requiring every gun to have a built-in trigger lock. This could be a mechanical device similar to a combination lock, or a keyed lock, or it could be an electronic device with a small keypad, something like this:

http://www.personalarms.com/gun_lock.htm

If Adam Lanza's mother had trigger locks, and assuming he didn't have the key, he couldn't have used them in the school shootings in Newtown, CT. Also, in conjunction with trigger locks, beef up the penalties to individuals if their guns are used by someone else in the commission of a crime.

If nothing else trigger locks would certainly reduce the number of deaths from accidental discharge of the gun. They would probably make gun theft and reselling a more difficult endeavor.

 

[mont974x4]

Every new firearm comes with a lock. Many firearms already have safety mechanisms built into them...some have more more than one. People can get free trigger locks from local law enforcement in many cases.

The recent mass shooter was a grown man. He did not have to try hard to overcome the safe storage of the firearms he stole to commit his crimes.


What you are suggesting is extremely expensive, and a waste of time as well as money. When a criminal decides on a course of action he will do whatever he has to in order to get it done. Plus, there is no way you are going to get all the firearms currently owned to be retrofitted.

Now, if I want to use your logic to address drunk driving I would go and demand that automakers make all new cars have a factory installed alcohol test in order for them to start. This fails for the same reasons your suggestion fails.

A big difference that must be considered.....driving a car is not a right. Owning firearms is a right.

 

[Revmitchell]

I will gladly join the "Gun rights Zealots" club. It's called the 2nd amendment.

 

[mont974x4]

I might have to save up for a new gun just on principal.

 

[InTheLight]

Every new firearm comes with a lock. Many firearms already have safety mechanisms built into them...some have more more than one. People can get free trigger locks from local law enforcement in many cases.

The recent mass shooter was a grown man. He did not have to try hard to overcome the safe storage of the firearms he stole to commit his crimes.

Are you saying that Lanza's mother's guns had trigger locks?

Are trigger locks easily defeatable?

 

[InTheLight]

Now, if I want to use your logic to address drunk driving I would go and demand that automakers make all new cars have a factory installed alcohol test in order for them to start. This fails for the same reasons your suggestion fails.

A big difference that must be considered.....driving a car is not a right. Owning firearms is a right.

Autos are not manufactured to be killing instruments. Autos cannot be used efficiently to kill 25 people in less than 2 minutes. Analogy fails.

 

[mont974x4]

I am saying that the report I read yesterday said the firearms were secure. I am also saying that I have not read any reports that said they were not secured.

There is no lock that cannot be unlocked.

 

[mont974x4]

Autos are not manufactured to be killing instruments. Autos cannot be used efficiently to kill 25 people in less than 2 minutes. Analogy fails.

How many people did McVeigh kill with his truck....and no gun?

 

[InTheLight]

I am saying that the report I read yesterday said the firearms were secure. I am also saying that I have not read any reports that said they were not secured.

There is no lock that cannot be unlocked.

Guns locked in a cabinet and guns with trigger locks are two different animals. It's much easier to break into a box holding guns than it is to defeat a trigger lock. Furthermore, unlocking a trigger lock could potentially damage the firearm, whereas unlocking a gun cabinet has no effect on the firearm.

Unlocking a trigger lock could take time which may dampen a killer's enthusiasm to spontaneously commit the crime.

 

[mont974x4]

Seriously?

 

[Revmitchell]

Seriously?

I'm sure he is. I bet he would be surprised to know Connecticut already has an assault weapons ban. Worked pretty good didn't it?

 

[mont974x4]

Columbine also happened in the midst of an assault weapons ban.

I have a few different styles of trigger locks. None of which are all that daunting.

 

[OldRegular]

Here's a proposal to attempt to reduce the number of mass murders committed with guns.

Pass a law requiring every gun to have a built-in trigger lock. This could be a mechanical device similar to a combination lock, or a keyed lock, or it could be an electronic device with a small keypad, something like this:

http://www.personalarms.com/gun_lock.htm

If Adam Lanza's mother had trigger locks, and assuming he didn't have the key, he couldn't have used them in the school shootings in Newtown, CT. Also, in conjunction with trigger locks, beef up the penalties to individuals if their guns are used by someone else in the commission of a crime.

And just what penalty are you going to impose on Lanza's mother?

 

[Don]

ITL - here's where I have a problem with your opening post: impose harsher penalties on those whose guns are used....

NO. Please re-think that. I don't want someone stealing my car because I left it running; using to rob a convenience store and/or maybe even murder someone (not with the car, but the car used to get them to the place), and then have some zealous DA press charges against me for complicity simply because the thief/murderer was granted access through the use of my vehicle.

Further, I don't want to loan my vehicle to someone, then find out I'm being charged with a crime because, unbeknownst to me, the person I loaned it to used it to commit a crime.

There is no justice in either of those scenarios. Just as there is no justice in charging the owner of a firearm if their weapons are taken by someone else and used to commit a crime. Keeping them stored in a weapons safe or with trigger locks supplied by the manufacturer suffice; those that are intent on using a stolen weapon will find a way to do so.

 

[Aaron]

Here's a proposal to attempt to reduce the number of mass murders committed with guns.

Pass a law requiring every gun to have a built-in trigger lock. This could be a mechanical device similar to a combination lock, or a keyed lock, or it could be an electronic device with a small keypad, something like this:

http://www.personalarms.com/gun_lock.htm

If Adam Lanza's mother had trigger locks, and assuming he didn't have the key, he couldn't have used them in the school shootings in Newtown, CT. Also, in conjunction with trigger locks, beef up the penalties to individuals if their guns are used by someone else in the commission of a crime.

If nothing else trigger locks would certainly reduce the number of deaths from accidental discharge of the gun. They would probably make gun theft and reselling a more difficult endeavor.

You're either clueless . . . .

 

[blackbird]

You're either clueless

Aaron---- all he made was a suggestion?? Your point is not well taken!!

 

[Revmitchell]

Aaron---- all he made was a suggestion?? Your point is not well taken!!

Yes...the word "zealot" was just a suggestion.

 

[Salty]

If Adam Lanza's mother had trigger locks, and assuming he didn't have the key, he couldn't have used them in the school shootings in Newtown, CT. Also, in conjunction with trigger locks, beef up the penalties to individuals if their guns are used by someone else in the commission of a crime.

Okay, So I have trigger locks on my pistol - a robber comes in my house at 2 am - I wake up - scrabble to get my 38 undo the trigger lock - oh wait I wont have time because he shot me while I was trying to get the trigger lock off......

 

[annsni]

Okay, So I have trigger locks on my pistol - a robber comes in my house at 2 am - I wake up - scrabble to get my 38 undo the trigger lock - oh wait I wont have time because he shot me while I was trying to get the trigger lock off......

That's what I was thinking. Now, if you owned 20 guns then yes, some would have trigger locks and some would be locked up but the one that is kept in the nightstand or under the bed had better not have a lock or else you might as well have stuck it in the attic!

 

[InTheLight]

I'm sure he is. I bet he would be surprised to know Connecticut already has an assault weapons ban.

Subject of the OP is trigger locks, not assault weapons ban. My contention is that had there been a trigger lock on the Lanza's mother's AR-15 there would be a lot of little kids that would still be alive today.

Worked pretty good didn't it?

Columbine had an armed security officer in the school who actually fired at one of the shooters. Worked pretty good didn't it?