Can this be True? Pen & Knife Guns Okayed for public! Whaaaaaa???

[tibbiit]

This even has my jaded cynical jaw dropping!

http://www.vpc.org/press/0310pengun.htm

Justice Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Allows Sale of Handgun Disguised as a Pen Despite Law Enforcement Warning

Washington, DC?The U.S. Justice Department's Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is allowing the sale to the general public of a small-caliber handgun disguised as a pen?despite the clear public safety threat such "pen guns" represent?the Violence Policy Center (VPC) warned today.

The public safety threat posed by the Stinger Pengun is made clear in an October 2002 "Officer Safety Bulletin" regarding the weapon issued by the U.S. Air Force Office of Special Investigations based at Andrews Air Force Base. The national alert was apparently distributed to government, military, and local law enforcement agencies. More recently, in August 2003, the Department of Homeland Security warned that terrorists might attempt to use ordinary items to conceal explosives or weapons?which is the exact purpose of the pen gun.

snip

According to Stinger, both guns have been approved for sale by ATF and under federal law are sold with only the same restrictions that apply to standard handguns. Advertising on Stinger's web site boasts, "The Stinger Pengun is the only legal pengun in the world" and promises that the gun opens up "A whole new world of possibilities." This is in spite of the fact that, according to ATF, under federal law "Gadget-type firearms and `pen' guns which fire fixed ammunition" are classified as an "Any Other Weapon" (AOW) under the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) and come under the NFA's strict licensing and registration regimen. To purchase an "Any Other Weapon," the buyer must go through an extended and extremely detailed background check, register the weapon, and receive approval from local law enforcement. ATF distinguishes the Stinger Pengun and Knifegun from other such weapons and treats them as standard handguns simply because in order to be fired, the "grip," or handle, of the gun must be angled to its barrel .

"This is a distinction without a difference," adds Sugarmann. "It is almost unfathomable the depths to which the Ashcroft Justice Department will sink to carry out the bidding of the gun industry and its lobbying allies. Stinger's pen and knife guns can be re-classified tomorrow to protect public safety on the street, in our offices, and in the air. And if the Ashcroft Justice Department truly cares about public safety, it will do so immediately."

I am speechless about this! Write congress!
tib

[Minstrel Boy]

1. "standard handgun"?!?

This is CRAZY!

[htuttle]

2. Whoo Hoo! Legal Zip Guns!

The Jets and the Sharks are going to love this!

[CarinKaryn]

3. This makes me sick!

These are obviously tools for assassians. THey have no value to law abiding citizens, to hunters or even to police or the military. ASS-CROFT must go!

[Fescue4u]

4. Cool!

What a neat gadget.

To those of you who are having spasm attacks over this, Im just curious if any crime has ever been documented using one of these.

[Shirley_U_Geste]

5. I want one!

I am sorry, I just do. I am not going to assasinate anyone, I promise.

I like gadgets and I like guns. I hate the idea of the government restricting me from owning one. These will very soon be outlawed, so I am getting mine quickly.

I just resent a government that says they know my motives and are thus restricting me. If I commit a crime with this gun then arrest me for the crime.

I feel the same way about drug paraphenalia. I wish I'd have bought a Tommy Chong bong while I had the opportunity. Really, any knowledge or possesion that is forbidden by the government is something I want. I have downloaded directions for making crystal meth and bombs. I download books on growing weed, etc.

I am all for justice and prosecuting crime that involves victims. But knowledge and ownership are not crimes that have victims.

[Blayde Starrfyre]

12. That will make the victims feel better.

"If I commit a crime with this gun then arrest me for the crime."

That will be a big consolation to the families of the person you shot. There is no reason to own this. As you all have said it's an ineffective weapon. Can you defend your country with it? No? Then it's not covered by the second amendment. Why on Earth would anyone make this legal? It's simply the gun lobby throwing its weight around. It gives them something to beat their chests and say "GRR. We're big men! We're upholding the dreams of the founders of America by legalizing this pen gun which has nothing to do with a militia."

Go figure.

[gethmord]

6. Considering the calabers offered.

The Pin gun will have a hard time killing a person.
And the fact it doesn't look like a pen at all, it shouldn't fool most people. I just about fell out of my chair, laughing so hard, when I saw the long barrel version with scope attached. Hell, it uses a coax video quick connect to load the gun.

[Fescue4u]

9. long barreled version

"Honest, its just a big ink pen...I've got alot of writing to do"

hehehe

[leanings]

7. From a pro-gunner

this probably should have been classed as an AOW.

On the other hand, there's no real point in banning them. Anyone who has the slightest mechanical ability and inclination can make a less obvious .22 zip gun in a few hours. Something like that is going to get caught at security checkpoints right away; it isn't the first pen gun out there. Scarier are the four shot cell phone .22's and camcorder guns that are out there. This little pengun is just a gimmicky oddity, not some overwhelming threat to public safety.

[Fescue4u]

8. I agree...

NO serious assassin, nor gang banger is going to use a one shot 22.

Even a direct show to the back of the head is no guarantee of death.

This is a gadget (that id really like to have), but represent no threat.

But yeah, it should be an AOW, which comes with a onerous $5 stamp tax.

[Frangible]

10. They are legal because

They cannot be fired while in "pen mode" a la James Bond, you have to deploy them into a "gun like shape".

Even then -- it's single shot, and a very low power round, from an inaccurate gun with no sights. I'd be surprised if the round would even penetrate a human skull with that short of a barrel.

Quite frankly a knife would be a more effective weapon. It's a toy, nothing more, nothing less.

[Brian Sweat]

11. This is a press release from a anti-violence group.

Not an actual news item. Can anyone confirm this story through a credible source?

[DonP]

13. They exist, but ...

I saw one at a show last year (2002) it's a long way from anything new. The stupid thing sells for around $300 and is purely a shooter novelty and collectors item.

It does not look anything like a pen. Actually it looks more like a 3/8 or 1/2 inch drive socket wrench in person than anything else. It's about 3/4 of an inch in diameter. It weight about a half pound or so,. so it's not really something you can put in your pocket.

A single shot .22 isn't even good for hunting squirrels and certainly would be a major embrassment to any self respecting gang banger in Chicago.

IMHO, its just something new to use to inflame people that don't know much about guns and scare them to send in more checks to make the Brady/VPC/MMM payrolls.

It's existence is not news and I think it has more to do with the shortage of funding at the Brady Center than any real threat to Americans.

These are the same guys that have said these guns are too big, these guns are too small, these are too expensive and these are too cheap ... but we're not really trying to ban guns.

[Tito]

14. daniel shay

the second amendment, it all realistic translations states that you have a right to protect yourself, if you do so you will face the consequences, but you have that right. a .22 calibur bullet is hardly more than a knife, it would not bring somebody down unless the person was hit in an incredibly vital area. and the malitia part, just to put that all to rest right know, James madison worded the amendment, and when asked what he meant by the malitia, he says quite simply "the people". This is not only the right of one to protect oneself, it is the right of oppressed people to rebel, and to have an ever present check on the govenrment.

Danial Shay's Rebellion

Daniel shay was a farmer who was taxed to the point that he lost his house, because of the articles of confederation, so he went into his house, took his gun off the mantle, and went out and made an impression with some of his peers that were in similar situations. it was not successful at overthrowing the govenrment, but it was enough to get people thinking how wrong the articles of confederation were, wich gives us the US constitution, one of the most perfect forms of govenrment ever divised,

Guns get people heard, it may not be the most civilized way, but when you oppressed, and the govenrment has guns and you dont, try to get them to listen.