Laser sight warning labels: from the horse's mouth

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230RN

2A was "political" when it was first adopted.
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Quite some time ago, .cheese. started a thread questioning whether or not failing to place that little warning sticker that comes with laser sights on your gun was a Federal offense. It should be noted that the manuals for these sights (at least for my Crimson Trace sights) give stern warnings about having to stick this little label on your gun, citing federal law, etc.. See:

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=284002&highlight=FDA

for the complete thread, if you're interested. (Most of the comments are quite amusing.)

Opinions abounded both ways, and of course some of the questions were whether or not you had to change the label from one gun to another, wouldn't gun cleaning solvents destroy the adhesion, "But I've never seen one of those labels on a gun, so it must be legal," etc.

All of the responses were uncited and unsupported.

So in May 2008 I decided to write to the proper government authority to determine "from the horse's mouth" what the story was on these labels.

The authority was the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

I sent them a detailed questioning letter, return receipt requested. I got the return receipt a couple of days later.

In early August, I figured my letter had fallen behind someone's desk, so I wrote them again.

I got an answer last week, see attached.

You will note the gentleman's sig line, quoting G.W.

I am sending him a thank-you e-mail.

230RN, AKA "Doubting Thomas", AKA "Stubborn SOB"
 

Attachments

  • LASER SIGHTS FDA PAGE 1.pdf
    263 KB · Views: 519
  • LASER SIGHTS FDA PAGE 2.pdf
    278.4 KB · Views: 325
  • LASER SIGHTS FDA PAGE 3.pdf
    176.9 KB · Views: 284
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I always liked Armoredman's CZ with the warning label on it... jut made it look, I dunno, cooler? (I didn't want to say tactical, even if I meant it as a compliment.)
 
Do they have any info on how to get the stupid labels off?

Executive Order?

Would some Hoppes Solvent spray work? That stuff seems to do everything from get one dates and do your long division homework.
 
I used a sharp finger nail and persistence to remove the labels...

As far as I'm concerned. It was none of their business whether I put the labels on or took them off. If I point that laser at someone it will be more then likely he'll die of lead poisoning before he dies of a laser...
 
Good work! I especially like the quote at the end. I wish all governmental agencies used similar thought processes.

I'd guess that this would apply to my question in this thread, although it could be an entirely different matter. One item being a gun, and the other a laser.
 
Excellent info, I was actually wondering because I had gotten a set of CTC grips second hand, and there were no stickers.

Thank you very much.
 
I'm surprised that an FDA employee had the time to write back. They're really, really understaffed.

The inspectors that audit my industry are armed, though. Who knows, you may have got the attention of a fellow gunny who answered you "under the radar."
 
Now can ya write to him again and ask about the label on my Blow Drier?:: I promise never to use it whilst still in the shower, or bath tub...I promise!:)
 
Now if we could only take those labesl off our matrresses.
I gather from the letter it only applies to manufacturers. So I reckon you can shoot the label off your matress with your unmarked crimson blaster.
I never put that label on. It's bad enough we have to put up with the "Read Instruction Manual Before Using" garbage engraved on barrels without adding dorky stickers. It should be more appropriate such as "Warning: Advancing towards this laser may cause acute lead poisoning and severe bleeding"
 
I put the sticker on the side of my gun safe next to the crimson trace bumper sticker from the box.

Now I just wish Ruger would start using stickers instead of engraving that warning crap on the side of my revolver's barrel.
 
Now I just wish Ruger would start using stickers instead of engraving that warning crap on the side of my revolver's barrel.

I've suggested something like that to companies. No one's done it.

My idea was to ship guns with a brightly colored trigger lock installed, which says "read instruction manual before removing this lock" on it, and "re-install the lock if you transfer possession of this firearm" if there's room (put it in the manual otherwise). Less permanent, it would actually catch people's attention better, and locks need to be provided with guns by law anyway.
 
Good information. I saw a new Kimber 3" 1911 with Crimson Trace grips installed with the laser warning label. I think it is ironic the laser is pointing at your eye you have much more to worry about than eye damage. :what:
 
My idea was to ship guns with a brightly colored trigger lock installed, which says "read instruction manual before removing this lock" on it, and "re-install the lock if you transfer possession of this firearm" if there's room (put it in the manual otherwise).
Much better idea than the engraving. The way they deface the firearms now is akin to GM etching "Learn to Drive Before Operating Vehicle" in 12" high letters across the windshield of all the new Caddilac CTS-Vs.
 
Wes Janson remarked, re the "G.W." quote,

Only problem with his quote is that it's completely unverified...

Why, I heard Gerry Walters say that just the other day. Saturday, in fact. ;)
 
Wait, so some of you guys actually thought that there was some law requiring you to put a sticker on a gun with a laser sight?
 
^ Yes, if you will look at the link to the original thread I posted above:

http://thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=284002&highlight=FDA

The warning that comes with the sights in the laser sight instruction manuals is very stern, and sounds as if anyone who has a laser sight has to stick the label on or they will be drawn and quartered. And nowhere (at least not in the manual for my CT sight) did it indicate that all this here now drawing and quartering did not apply to the end user.

Whence and wherefore there was a lot of doubt about it, and the "opinions" offered on both sides of the issue were undocumented and uncited. These opinions went on for three pages, although most of them were just pretty funny plain old wisecrackery.

Wherefore and whence I decided to check it out directly with the proper authority and put an end to all the misinformation and unsupported fartulation.

Read the original thread, started by .cheese. .
 
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