California Ruling Could Pave the Way for Smart-Gun Mandates

[SecularMotion]

A federal appeals court in California is expected to rule soon on whether states can force firearm manufacturers to incorporate safety devices in their products, a development that could have broad effect on whether and how quickly President Barack Obama’s recent calls for more “smart guns” takes effect.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, which covers a wide swath of the West, is weighing a challenge to a California law requiring manufacturers to make handguns that won’t fire a bullet left in the chamber if their magazines are detached, and that will indicate when a bullet is in the chamber.

The two safety measures were invented more than a century ago. But the ruling, which could come any day, is likely to inform any efforts by states to mandate newer technology promoted by the Obama administration that prevents a gun from firing unless in the hands of an authorized user.

“How the Ninth Circuit rules here will have a huge impact on the ability of any state to require any kind of smart gun technology,” said Adam Skaggs, senior counsel for Everytown for Gun Safety, a gun-control group.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/california-ruling-may-suppress-smart-gun-technology-1463096189

[CompanyFirstSergeant]

1. The following items have been standard on several models for quite a while....

handguns that won’t fire a bullet left in the chamber if their magazines are detached, and that will indicate when a bullet is in the chamber.

These are semi-autos of course. Revolvers will not fire with the cylinder open.

Revolvers are easy to see the backs of the cartridges in the chambers.

[Straw Man]

2. Yes -- the "California compliant" models ...

Last edited Fri May 13, 2016, 10:54 AM - Edit history (1)

... as well as some others.

Unlike "smart guns," these are proven technologies. However, their utility as safety measures is questionable.

First of all, with many semi-autos, you can see if there's a round in the chamber simply by looking at the ejection port: the edge of the cartridge rim is visible at the back of the chamber. Instead, the laws mandate some kind of warning button, usually red in color, that pops up when there is a round in the chamber. However, the user still must look at the gun, or the red button can go unnoticed. There has been at least one lawsuit charging that the warning device wasn't sufficiently noticeable, leading the plaintiff to fire the gun anyway. It's hard to see how such idiocy can be avoided, short of a Nerf hand that pops up and bops the user in the face if he/she touches the trigger, possibly with the addition of audio screaming "Hey, moron, there's a round in the chamber!"

Magazine-disconnect safeties are another attempt to idiot-proof semi-autos, using technology to avoid the possibility that the owner of a semi-auto pistol doesn't know that a round in the chamber doesn't come out when the magazine is removed, nor that racking the slide with a loaded magazine in place will put another round in the chamber. The drill to unload a semi-auto is always "remove the ammunition source, then clear the chamber." At best, magazine-disconnect safeties prevent idiots from shooting themselves when they think they have unloaded their gun. At worst, they could enable accidental shootings when the idiot owner leaves a round in the chamber, thinking the gun is safe because the magazine has been removed, and then someone else (or the original idiot, at a later date) comes along, inserts an empty magazine, and pulls the trigger because "Hey, it's an empty gun, right?"

The bottom line is that both scenarios are based on someone violating one of the most fundamental rules of gun safety: You do not pull the trigger on a gun unless you (a) are intending to fire it or (b) are absolutely certain there is nothing in the chamber.

[CompanyFirstSergeant]

3. Good points.

I was not aware of a red button chamber indicator.

Smith and Wesson has been a leader in offering an option of a no magazine/no fire interlock.

However, they also include a key lock on all new revolvers, which I would never own.

NY and CA - home of the space guns.

NEW YORK



CALIFORNIA

[jmg257]

4. Interesting that the latest FBI RFP for their new 9mm says NO magazine disconnect.

MAGAZINE DISCONNECTOR/SAFETY
None allowed. The pistol shall fire with the magazine removed and a live
round in the chamber.

MANUAL EXTERNAL SAFETY
None allowed. Only safeties which are disengaged by the rearward movement of the
trigger are allowed (i.e., passive).

GRIP SAFETY
None allowed.



Trigger safety is allowed. I didn't notice a load chamber indicator.

[DonP]

5. Boy, if the Government can't get the FBI to "behave" what chance do they stand with civilians?

Maybe all our "Smart Gun" true believers need to write the White House and get them to order the FBI and Secret Service to set an example for the "Proven" Smart Gun use?

[sarisataka]

6. I guess that means

my Ruger P345 is a smart gun. I can live with that.