"Childproofing" representation in New Jersey
by Ted
Lang, Associate Editor
October 18, 2002
On October 7th, the New Jersey State Senate once again passed a bill requiring
gun manufacturers to "childproof" handguns with electronics allowing for their
operation only by their imprinted owners. This technology doesn't exist, and
even when developed and completed, cannot be guaranteed reliable. The emergency
grasp and panicked fumbling for a firearm in defense of one's home, in defense
of one's family or neighbors, or when hurriedly brought into service in defense
of one's own life, cannot be assessed in the comfort and security of a legislative
chamber of senators and assemblymen.
"Childproof" is of course the operative word. What legislator would wish to be accused of opposing the safety of children? And as strong as that word is, it is devoid of even a remote connection to reality! Only 20 handgun accidents [1997] occur on average in the nation annually according to the National Safety Council. Unable to obtain numbers for the State of New Jersey, considering it as one of the most heavily gun-controlled in America, it would be safe to argue that almost no child deaths occur annually in New Jersey with handguns. This is hardly justification for such draconian legislation.
Of course, another argument along the old "proliferation of guns" line supporting the incremental abolition of the Second Amendment in New Jersey, would be to offer that this prevents theft of lawfully acquired handguns from stores and their owners thereby reducing crime. Absolutely no evidence whatsoever has surfaced supporting this contention; criminals are adept at altering weapons, and criminal organizations are readily able and willing to supply illegal merchandise smuggled in from outside the United States. The drug trade is a perfect example.
And speaking of the illegal drug trade, it is in particular this criminal activity in the inner cities of New Jersey that are included in the astonishing number of 12 child gun deaths per day erroneously presented by the Million Mom March.
Writing for WorldNetDaily.com, on May 16, 2000 in her piece: "MADD: Moms Against Data and Deduction," Ann Coulter offers: "To pump up the numbers of children killed in gun accidents, gun control advocates include 'children' aged 15-19, which of course, includes gang members, drug mules and common criminals. But even including 'children' who are old enough to be gang members, guns still account for only 2 percent of all accidental deaths. Here are some random comparisons of accidental deaths for all 'children' under the age of 20:
Cars - 8,113 deaths
Drowning - 1,269 deaths
Smoke and fire - 723 deaths
Mechanical suffocation - 529 deaths
Guns - 306 deaths."
Coulter continues: "[M]ore children under the age of five die every year drowning in buckets [rather than from gun accidents.]" The Million Mom March has erroneously pointed out through their main representative in the media, The New York Times, "guns 'remain the only consumer product that is not federally regulated by the [US] Consumer Product Safety Commission.'" The Moms point out that toy Teddy Bears have more safety tests. And that's as it should be, because more children die choking on toys and Teddy Bear adornments than do from gun accidents. And there are already over 20,000 gun laws in the country.
Considering the legal liability and incessant lawsuit harassment gun manufacturers are subject to, monumental motivation exits to ensure safe gun manufacture. Again Coulter: "Since 1945, the total supply of guns has more than doubled, while the rate of fatal gun accidents has fallen by an astounding two-thirds. There are roughly 240 million guns in the country and the total of non-fatal injuries is about 2,000 per year. Toy injuries: over 140,000 a year."
New Jersey State Senators have taken special precaution in their bill, S573, to include in their recommended legislation an amendment excluding themselves from legal liability in the event that the legislation is instrumental in causing "smart gun" death or injury to innocent users and bystanders. ***
© 2002 Ted Lang Publications
COPYRIGHT © 2002 BY THE AMERICAN PARTISAN. All writers retain rights to their work.