'Don't Put a Handgun Under the Christmas Tree this year' (BARF!)

PRNewswire ^ | 12/11/01 | Citizens for a Safer Minnesota

[BCR #226]

Attention Holiday Shoppers: 'Don't Put a Handgun Under the Christmas Tree This Year'

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Citizens for a Safer Minnesota (CSM), a gun violence prevention group, warned holiday shoppers not to put a handgun under the Christmas tree this year. CSM noted that handguns can pose health risks due to inherent defects in their design and fabrication. Additionally, most handguns lack safety devices like trigger locks and load indicators that would reduce the number of accidental injuries and deaths caused by the unintentional firing of guns.

Currently there are no health and safety regulations for handguns. Ironically, teddy bears and toy guns are subject to federal consumer product safety standards and are subject to recall.

"When holiday shoppers purchase virtually any product, they can be assured that their gift has been reviewed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, unless shoppers are buying a gun," said Rebecca Thoman, Executive Director of Citizens for a Safer Minnesota. "When we regulate teddy bears and toy guns more than we regulate a handgun, something is wrong."

Teddy bears are regulated under four criteria: choking (ex. eyes popping out posing risk to children), flammability, sharp edges, and sharp points. Toy guns and other children's toys have similar regulations. In 1997 teddy bears killed no one in the United States, but gun violence took 32,436 lives in 1997 alone.

CSM's Midwest Coalition to End Gun Violence partners, Iowans for the Prevention of Gun Violence and the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence joined together to educate the public that guns are not regulated as consumer products.

"Two-thirds of Twin City residents and nearly 80% of greater Minnesota residents mistakenly believe that guns are regulated by federal safety standards. It's our job to correct that myth," stated Thoman, referring to a survey recently conducted for Citizens for a Safer Minnesota.

"I think people assume that guns are regulated as consumer products because everything else they buy is regulated. They say, so why aren't guns in the list as well," said Catherine Griffiths, Midwest Regional Director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence.

According to a recent survey, Minnesota residents overwhelmingly support government safety regulations for the design of guns. 75% of Twin City metro residents and 66% of greater Minnesota residents support regulating guns as consumer products.

The Midwest Coalition displayed an array of consumer regulated products including an artificial wreath, Christmas lights, a toaster, a coffee maker, and a remote controlled toy Santa that carried a sign asking why teddy bears are regulated, but guns are not. CSM wants to know the same thing.

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http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X88722438

SOURCE Citizens for a Safer Minnesota

CO: Citizens for a Safer Minnesota

ST: Minnesota

IN:

SU:

12/11/2001 11:30 EST http://www.prnewswire.com

[m1911]

Cool! My first double post. Sorry about that.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Who lets children play with guns anyway?

[NY.SS-Bar9]

I think (know) Santa is bringing me a NAA Guardian this year :)

[arly]

there right ! under the christmas tree is no place for a handgun... I keep mine loaded and in my nightstand drawer!

[Dimensio]

Feh, you already beat me to the joke.

[kimber]

Belongs under the tree and the stocking in my house. Get over it!

[harpseal]

I really do hate to disagree with you but the original box for a new Taurus .357 9 shot revolver will not fit in a stocking unless the person hanging the stocking puts up Panty hose. Neither will the box for a new Sig M2 .45 acp fit in my stocking so I guess under the tree carefully wrapped is the best alternative. Snubbies, however are exellent stocking stuffers, as are ammunition and holsters.

Stay well 0 stay safe - stay armed - Merry Christmas

[harpseal]

C-4 can be used for chimney cleaning so santa doesn't get sooty.

Stay well - stay safe - stay armed - Yorktown

[George Smiley]

Clearly you need to take your browser in and have a new sear installed.

[goodieD]

How about little gun ornaments ON the tree?

[George Smiley]

I really do hate to disagree with you but the original box for a new Taurus .357 9 shot revolver will not fit in a stocking unless the person hanging the stocking puts up Panty hose.

Back when I was single I put up panty hose by the chimney every year.

Stupid Santa only put candy and stuff in there...

[Republican Wildcat]

Actually, a "Laugh alert" may have been more appropriate for this article. What a joke.

[dighton]

"Don't put a handgun under the tree / For anyone else but me."

[bruoz]

"The BATF regulates ALL firearms designs sold in the US. Unlike the CPSB, the criteria that the BATF uses is mandatory and must be met BEFORE the firearm design is approved for sale to consumers in the US."

This may be true for imported firearms but it is not true for guns manufactured here. The ATF regulates the firearm industry to ensure that the requirements of federal law are met. Things like serial numbers and minimum barrel lengths etc. Under federal law an individual can even manufacture a handgun, rifle or shotgun (Title 1 firearm) for personal use without a FFL as long as you give it a serial number and it meets legal requirements like barrel length and bore size.

[cva66snipe]

I do have to wonder how many of these self appointed anti-Second Ammendment clowns will purchase for their teenager nothing but the most powerfull high speed projectile a teenager can operate? It alone is the number one cause of teenage injuries and deaths and doesn't begin to approach that of natural illnesses or weapons as a cause of such. Most highschool kids in America do not have a class mate a year killed by a gun. Even the smallest highschools though usually loose at least one student a year to an automobile accident.

Yea I bet these self appointed it's for the children and a safer world anti-gun clowns think nothing of purchasing hi-powered automobiles for teenagers. Afterall we can't let our child be seen driving anything less than what is the best preformance. The typical teenager with neither the skills nor maturity to handle them. Once a vehice leaves the 60 mph speed range steering becomes more or less aiming on many of our nations hi-ways. Yet their silence is deafening on the matter.

Hand this to the face of the next anti-gun zealot who starts spouting gun death statistics and listen to them choke on their words. Do they propose we all walk too? Bicycles kill as well especially those with gear ratios that allow speeds in above 40 mph. Yep them killer bikes gotta go too.

Merry Christmas Son enjoy your new car.

[alfa6]

RE your post #31...NO LOUISE???

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[arly]

I'm dreaming of a bluesteel christmas....