Trigger Locks Would Have Prevented The Latest Mass Shooting

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Have you ever tried to remove one of those "trigger locks" without the key. Takes about 10 minutes. Sure it slows down a small child but any 12 year old that knows how to run a power drill can get it off in a few minutes.

Okay, how about another more effective safety measure to prevent others besides the owner from using stored guns?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Have you ever tried to remove one of those "trigger locks" without the key. Takes about 10 minutes. Sure it slows down a small child but any 12 year old that knows how to run a power drill can get it off in a few minutes.

Locks keep honest people honest, but there is no reason to make it easy for fools and the mentally ill. The more barriers the better. When I commanded an armory, it had triple barrier security and dual alarm systems tied into the local PD. After all that, the weapons were either locked into racks, or placed in a safe within the vault, or had the firing mechanisms removed and those were locked into a safe within the vault.

Edited December 16, 2012 by The Patriot

[Dakine10 5,452]

Have you ever tried to remove one of those "trigger locks" without the key. Takes about 10 minutes. Sure it slows down a small child but any 12 year old that knows how to run a power drill can get it off in a few minutes.

Why would you leave power tools lying around where a twelve year old could pick them up. Power drills can be dangerous too. If you're going to be that irresponsible, might as well just leave the gun out on the kitchen table.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

So it sounds like everyone can at least agree on gun safety, but may differ on what are effective measures of safety.

Another safety measure - limited capacity clips (magazines) to a reasonable number. How about 6?

[Ban Hammer 13,570]

Because they are stored?

in a big honking combo lock safe

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

limited capacity clips (magazines) to a reasonable number. How about 6?

Depends on the weapon, and the situation. Hunters are already limited to like 3 rounds, if I remember right, it has been a while. If I am at home and trying to defend myself, I want all the magazine capacity possible. I think California already has a ten round limit for detachable magazines.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Why would you leave power tools lying around where a twelve year old could pick them up. Power drills can be dangerous too. If you're going to be that irresponsible, might as well just leave the gun out on the kitchen table.

Most kids I know of are using power tools by age 12. I thought it was natural for all fathers to teach their sons about the use of power tools while said child is still in elementary school.

Nothing wrong with spending time with your children and teaching them gun safety. It makes for more intelligent children. No reason for anyone to dumb down their children imo.

[Ban Hammer 13,570]

So it sounds like everyone can at least agree on gun safety, but may differ on what are effective measures of safety.

Another safety measure - limited capacity clips (magazines) to a reasonable number. How about 6?

magazines can be swapped out in a few seconds.

and for saying clips!

[lostinblue 1,989]

Why would you leave power tools lying around where a twelve year old could pick them up. Power drills can be dangerous too. If you're going to be that irresponsible, might as well just leave the gun out on the kitchen table.

Maybe you needed a sheltered life but a power drill was allowed to be used when I was 12. Guesss we need another law from you liberals. Getting back to the question at hand This man was an adult so no a trigger lock would be defeated .This act was a vell thought out attack. Even if he had no access to any guns his ma still would be dead. When someone decides to kill you there is very little you can do to prevent it. With ma dead even if the guns were locked away he would have had access to even a safe ....having lived there in the house. It sounds like that on occasion had practiced with them.

[Dakine10 5,452]

Most kids I know of are using power tools by age 12. I thought it was natural for all fathers to teach their sons about the use of power tools while said child is still in elementary school.

Nothing wrong with spending time with your children and teaching them gun safety. It makes for more intelligent children. No reason for anyone to dumb down their children imo.

Yeah, teaching your kids to use tools or guns properly and safely is good. I never said it wasn't. That doesn't mean 12 year olds shouldn't be using your power tools to bust the locks on your guns when you're not around.

The first part of safety is responsibility. That goes for guns, tools, cars, Jack Daniels, and a lot of other things.

[Dakine10 5,452]

Maybe you needed a sheltered life but a power drill was allowed to be used when I was 12. Guesss we need another law from you liberals. Getting back to the question at hand This man was an adult so no a trigger lock would be defeated .This act was a vell thought out attack. Even if he had no access to any guns his ma still would be dead. When someone decides to kill you there is very little you can do to prevent it. With ma dead even if the guns were locked away he would have had access to even a safe ....having lived there in the house. It sounds like that on occasion had practiced with them.

Yeah I knew how to use power tools when I was 12. But I wasn't using my dad's power tools at 12 years old if he wasn't there. And if he was there, I wasn't going to be using his power tools to get his guns out of the safe.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

magazines can be swapped out in a few seconds.

Perhaps by an expert, but less so for someone who has limited knowledge and experience. But lets assume everyone on this planet by default would be able to swap out magazines within say, 5 seconds. That's enough time for someone to run away, or to lock a door, or to hide, or to tackle the shooter, which is what happened with Jerod Loughner. He was grappled to the ground while trying to swap out magazines. So yeah, those few seconds potentially saved dozens of lives. Had his magazines been smaller capacity, even more lives would have been saved. That's how safety works. It's never full proof, but it is effective.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Anyone here against requiring stored guns to have trigger locks? If so, why?

Yes ! What good would locked guns do me if I needed them. Do you really think if he stole the guns he could not have stolen the key to.

[Ban Hammer 13,570]

Perhaps by an expert, but less so for someone who has limited knowledge and experience. But lets assume everyone on this planet by default would be able to swap out magazines within say, 5 seconds. That's enough time for someone to run away, or to lock a door, or to hide, or to tackle the shooter, which is what happened with Jerod Loughner. He was grappled to the ground while trying to swap out magazines. So yeah, those few seconds potentially saved dozens of lives. Had his magazines been smaller capacity, even more lives would have been saved. That's how safety works. It's never full proof, but it is effective.

practice makes perfect - one can practice swapping out magazines in their own home.

[justashooter 430]

Anyone here against requiring stored guns to have trigger locks? If so, why?

SCOTUS had already declared that any device or practice intended to delay access to or disable a firearm is unconstitutional in Heller (2008). under Heller (Macdonald), no state can implement such law without being in violation of your constitutional right to keep and bear firearms.

please study the subject before you share "great ideas" on "reasonable restrictions".

google is your friend:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbia_v._Heller

"...the District of Columbia's regulations act was an unconstitutional banning, and struck down the portion of the regulations act that requires all firearms including rifles and shotguns be kept "unloaded and disassembled or bound by a trigger lock."

high cap magazines are also protected as "being in common use" under Heller. you cannot ban them.

Edited December 16, 2012 by justashooter