Idiot Warnings on Guns. Law?

[ArfinGreebly]

Discreet . . .

Ever lower the sun visor? You'll find seatbelt, airbag and other warning labels on the normally hidden side of them both.

Then perhaps they need to find a discreet place on the gun for that.

Under the butt, perhaps.

Or, they could just use "mattress tags" tied to the gun.

​

 

[Regolith]

There is a thread in the Revolver forum somewhere where a guy took a stainless SP101 and removed the idiot warnings and the RUGER billboard that they put on their revolver barrels. It looked rather nice. Those idiot warnings do a lot to muck up the aesthetics of the gun.

Unfortunately, we live in a society that is so sue-happy that aesthetics have to be sacrificed for CYA. Pretty sad, when you think about it.

 

[Prince Yamato]

I have seen Saiga rifles with a warning label. It was in the back towards the stock. It said, "warning: read owners manual before use".

A warning label on a Kalashnikov... only in America...

 

[Owens]

Some things should just be obvious

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Well, considering that gun control groups have specifically targeted the gun industry for lawsuits and that one of their goals has been to get by lawsuit what they can't get in Congress, anybody in that industry is going to get sued a lot.

The thing about warning labels is they cost almost nothing; but they reduce liability significantly. In an industry where you are in a constant legal war, you need to limit the number of places you can be attacked. I read a torts case where some moron had purchased a bicycle helmet and used it as a motorcycle helmet. When he then smashed his gourd going around a corner at excessive speed, his estate sued the helmet manufacturer and won. One of the reasons the court used to justify the decision on appeal is that it would not have cost the manufacturer much to warn that the helmet wasn't intended for use at speeds above 35mph even though you would think that would be apparent even to most imbeciles.

Remember, a federal judge is a lifetime appointment. They are appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. How you vote for President and Senator has an impact on what judges hear these cases and how these rulings are made. Hopefully the PLCA will eventually reduce these suits for the gun industry but since notoriously anti-gun NY judge Weinberg has ignored the act so far, the lawsuits continue until a higher court rules on the act.

 

[rocinante]

I have seen Saiga rifles with a warning label. It was in the back towards the stock. It said, "warning: read owners manual before use".

A warning label on a Kalashnikov... only in America...

I will have to look again on my rifle.

As the OP I am glad some share my attitudes. I think the warnings are ugly and legally ineffective. It all depends on a jury. If a product is poorly designed and malfunctions that is the only thing that justifies a settlement. If a product causes damages because it was used improperly then that is a whole different game. Ignorance is not, rather SHOULD NOT BE, a sound basis for a law suit in any sane legal system.

Yes the idiot warnings ARE EVERYWHERE! I just find them particularly distasteful on firearms ESPECIALLY my cowboy guns. Just something about a weak PC pussified message on objects that symbolize what America was is just irritating beyond belief to me. Irrational? probably but damn it I don't need an YOU'LL SHOOT YOUR EYE OUT KID nag on my lever rifle or revolver or shotgun. STUPID!!!! The people who would benefit from such warning and few and far between AND they are the ones who wouldn't read the warning or manual anyhow. Fun is an endangered species and the shysters and idiot clients will kill it one pratfall at a time.


Funny stuff guys. Thanks for the laughs.

 

[weisse52]

I completely understand that our social environment has created a situation where some companies feel that must include warnings on everything. No one will every convince me that this is needed, or just.

For me, I will avoid idiot warnings on my guns if possible. As someone already stated I do not recall anything mucking up the lines of my Colts or Glocks. (like you can really muck up the lines of a Glock).

I went out to buy a new 1911 last month. I looked at S&W 1911's for the first time. They have gotten some good reviews and a local gun shop had a great sale going. I was almost convinced to buy one when I noticed a warning that said something like "gun will fire with magazine removed" on the frame. For some reason that just turned me off to the point where I turned away. (I did find another Colt series 70 reissue that filled the need just fine)

I put it in the same classification as those added locks that seem to be mandated on some product lines (Smith & Wesson comes to mind). I use to love S&W revolvers. But I have not bought a new one because of the locks they have seen fit to make mandatory on their product. I am not commenting if they do / not do anything to the overall function. But I just will not buy one.

Maybe it should not be an issue, but as long as I have the option, I will choose to avoid firearms that tell me the obvious, or that add locks I did not ask for or need.

 

[Old Dog]

I'd have no problem with this one:

WARNING! Misuse can cause injury or death

... if it were followed by:
Of course, proper use may result in injury or death also.

 

[230RN]

Gee, I thought engraving on a gun enhanced its value.

 

[MakAttak]

I'd have no problem with this one:

Quote:
WARNING! Misuse can cause injury or death

... if it were followed by:
Of course, proper use may result in injury or death also.

I want that on my guns...

Anyone know an engraver?

 

[SAWBONES]

Lawyer babble.
Either the manufacturer lost a suit or agreed in settlement of a suit, or acquiesced at the corporate attorneys' advice to preemptively avoid gun-use-related damage suits, to thenceforward put "warnings" on all guns made.

 

[Wes Janson]

I'd be fine if they had the lettering on the barrel or slide that said "THIS DIRECTION TOWARDS ENEMY -->"

 

[siglite]

I'd be fine if they had the lettering on the barrel or slide that said "THIS DIRECTION TOWARDS ENEMY -->"

Don't laugh. I've seen that printed on the tubes of shoulder launched weapons.

And claymores.

 

[Groucho_]

Warnings are all fine and good but speaking particularly of a few models notably the Beretta M92's, sometimes it gets out of hand. Especially marks that you can't remove, i.e. not stickers/wraps. I understand if they want to put a little warning label on my pack of smokes, but I don't want a big warning message engraved into my gun.

Put a warning label on the box, wrap the gun in removable plastic that has warnings all over it, seat the gun in groove cut plastic that has warnings on it, wrap all of this in one more plastic wrap with warnings and of course slap a few stickers on the gun itself. Hell, I don't care how much it takes until they feel comfortable that we get it: guns can be dangerous. Just don't, please for God's sake, engrave my gun with some unsightly warning I can't remove.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Hell, I don't care how much it takes until they feel comfortable that we get it: guns can be dangerous. Just don't, please for God's sake, engrave my gun with some unsightly warning I can't remove.

The problem there is that only works for you - the original purchaser. As soon as somebody else who wasn't there when the gun was purchased shoots themselves, the manufacturer loses whatever liability shield those warnings provided because they were on the box that the guy didn't see and not the gun that he shot himself with.

 

[Geo.Az]

Standing Wolf

It seams to me Not a gun problem at all, but a lawer problem a photo of a End I have Seen.

DISCLAIMER: I do not advocate or condone violence against another human being except in the defense of self, or a third party, or lawfully owned property. I do not advocate or condone any unlawful act against any duly authorized or sitting government within the U.S., or its elected officials, or its agencies, or its personnel. I do advocate replacing bad government with better government through both the ballot box and the jury box. Any misconstruction of my comments are the sole responsibility of the person(s) misinterpreting their meaning and/or intent.

ps...." Good judgement comes from bad experience,
which usually comes from bad judgement.."