Hell yes, these should be banned. Why the hell would you want one unless you are trying to commit suicide by cop:
Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is raising alarm about the sale of iPhone cases that are made to look like the handle of a 9 mm handgun.
In letters to online retailers and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the senator said the product is a disaster waiting to happen and warned it might violate federal law.
The New York senator’s warning had an immediate effect; Amazon and eBay told news outlets they were removing listings for the product.
“We should be doing everything in our power to end the rash of gun violence across the country, however, this product simply promotes it,” Schumer said Tuesday. “Moreover, this iPhone gun case can result in tragedy if mistaken for a real gun.”
The American Spectator, not surprising, is against the ban. We’ll wait for what I am sure will be a thoughtful objection from the glibertarians.
different-church-lady
All morons would want that.
Gravenstone
Honest to god, I read that as “American Ejaculator” and thought that was a rather specific market niche.
trollhattan
California would be interested in identifying everybody stupid enough to want to own such a thing, but they’ve got a bit of a backlog at the moment.
Sleep tight, boys and girls.
BGinCHI
If it increases the Darwinian elimination of stupid and violent people then maybe it’s a good thing.
Major Major Major Major
@trollhattan: How do they determine ‘mentally ill’? Asking out of curiosity, I’m all for the mentally ill not having guns, but I’m curious how the process works.
At any rate, that iPhone case is a terrible idea. I’m ~almost~ in favor of culling the herd of the idiots who would want one, but I’m aware enough to realize that it’s not going to be just white guys in New Hampshire getting mowed down by the cops.
muddy
It doesn’t even have a big orange button on the end.
Howard Beale IV
@Major Major Major Major: In some states, a voluntary admission to the psych ward gets forwarded to the state agency which is responsible for firearm registration-and that state may talk to other states. In IL, it’s an automatic 5-year ban.
I would imagine an involuntary admit is probably harsher.
the Conster
This is another one of those American asshat sorting hats, like the Trump candidacy and confederate flag dead enders. We can’t have new bridges or high speed trains, but we’re #1 when it comes to making things for idiots to buy.
mtiffany
On the upside, since the phone case is not an actual gun, the case manufacturers do not enjoy the blanket immunity from civil liability that Congress gave to companies that manufacture actual guns.
JustRuss
I’m trying to think of a product stupider than a pistol-shaped phone case. Pet Rock comes to mind, but, nope, not stupid enough.
MattF
Hard to fathom that level of stupidity. At least we’ll (probably) be spared the ‘improved’ version that shoots real bullets.
BillinGlendaleCA
OT: I just found a little lizard inside my cave. I scooted the little fella(or gal, I didn’t check) out.
wasabi gasp
Is this really a flying-off-the-sheves problem?
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
It’s probably a sign that I’m an Old that my first thought was, “How is that even usable as a case?” It’s not like you’ll be able to use the handle to steady the phone while you type or play a game.
MomSense
@Major Major Major Major:
It seems to me that mental illness is such a broad term that doesn’t really provide any insight into the issue of the proliferation of guns except that it provides a handy way for gun nuts to deflect any serious discussion or policy regarding gun violence prevention.
RSA
“The perfect gift.”
But that’s about it, I think.
BillinGlendaleCA
@Mnemosyne (iPhone): Yes, we’re old. I saw a young asian woman with an iPhone case shaped like a slice of watermelon significantly increasing the size of the phone(pre iPhone6 days).
Major Major Major Major
@MomSense: It’s kind of amusing, though, I suppose, the way it always plays out…
“The problem isn’t guns, it’s mental illness!”
“OK, so can we talk about funding for mental health treatment?”
“SOCIALISM! Look, what we need to do is enforce existing laws, not pass more laws.”
“So we can start tracking down the mentally ill and taking their guns away then?”
“GUN GRABBER!”
rikyrah
who would want this?
makes no damn sense.
NotMax
The same kind of moron that would frequent here.
Major Major Major Major
@NotMax: At least chocolate is delicious.
MomSense
@Major Major Major Major:
It’s totally predictable at this point. We keep going through this cycle of it’s too early to talk about gun control, how dare you politicize a tragedy, can’t really do anything about the mentally ill doing crazy things, this is all just a pretext to take our guns. It’s like a maze where all paths lead to inaction.
Omnes Omnibus
@JustRuss: A pet rock is not going to get you killed. Unless it is rabid of course.
wasabi gasp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQcdSWU87Uw
gelfling545
@rikyrah: No, it makes no sense so teenagers & those who have steadfastly refused to mature will want them.
DCrefugee
Someone would have to be askew to want to buy that, but equally askew to think it looks like anything more than an iPhone on a stupid stick…
DCrefugee
Someone would have to be askew to want to buy that, but equally askew to think it looks like anything more than an iPhone on a stupid stick…
@MomSense:
I have a friend who keeps sending me links to far-right sites shouting about Obama coming to take their guns. I probably have more guns than he does, and I’m not the least bit worried some feds are going to show up. I respect the right to own firearms but something’s got to be done.
At minimum, there should be some thought about new policies on ownership qualifications and mandatory liability insurance coverage, as with automobiles, perhaps starting on a date in the future for all new-manufacture firearms. If it was done right, with the insurance companies buying into the program, and if at least a few manufacturers backed it, it could get through a Dem Congress. It would be a big, big defeat for the NRA, and they’d throw at it everything they can.
That’s a start, to at least requiring someone to pay a price if someone else is killed by their actions.
I haven’t been able to crack the code on keeping firearms from the emotionally disturbed without banging smack into confidentiality.
Eric S.
@rikyrah: gun fetishists. It doesn’t have to make sense to us but gun love is strong with so many Americas.
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
@BillinGlendaleCA:
At least something uniformly larger might be justified as making easier to hold the phone in both hands. What’s the point of only being able to hold it in one hand? It’s not long enough to double as a selfie stick.
Eric S.
@DCrefugee: Honest question, would insurance companies want the business? There are numerous insurance companies that won’t write a home owners policy if you own certain breeds of dogs. Well they really wei l write a policy for your 9 mil?
Eric S.
@Eric S.: cell phone typing while drinking …
Will insurance companies want to write a policy for someone’s 9 mil?
SFAW
What’s all this talk of “banning”? The Second Amendment CLEARLY states that the right to bear arms, and things that resemble arms but aren’t, or anything else that Wayne LaPierre deems covered, shall NOT be infringed.
Gravenstone
@Omnes Omnibus: A pet rock is a pretty viable little weapon, once. After that, you sort of lose the element of surprise, not to mention your weapon.
Dave
It’s really fucking depressing when our legislators are more interested in banning iPhone cases that look like hand guns instead of banning REAL FUCKING HAND GUNS!!
SatanicPanic
This is clearly a joke because only latte-sipping, Volvo driving Libturds use IPhones. Real Americans use Motorola phones or Palm Pilots.
dexwood
What Moron Would Want This?
My asshole brother-in-law.
Villago Delenda Est
@Gravenstone: Those are the morans we’re looking for.
PurpleGirl
@Major Major Major Major: I don’t think the most tasty fine chocolate is used in making the forms. They’re going for the shock and giggle value.
Cervantes
@Dave:
Shhh!
Cervantes
@DCrefugee:
The mandatory liability-insurance thing is a fine idea and achieving it would certainly be an uphill struggle. Have you talked to your elected representatives about it? Or anyone at an insurance carrier?
Cervantes
@Major Major Major Major:
Consider the Catch-22 approach: If you want to buy this* sort of gun, you’re obviously mentally ill and can’t have one.
*For suitable vales of “this sort of gun.”
Lumpkin
Strongly recommend that black people do NOT get this particular accessory unless you wish to be gunned down by the police in a “legitimate” shooting.
g
People who purchase and use it will be the next winners of the Darwin Awards.
moderateindy
Complete idiocy, but not something that we really need to waste time, or effort passing a law to ban. Seriously, how many people would actually buy this thing? And if they were shot by a cop, no one would feel bad for anyone but the cop.
There are things that we need laws for, and things that are so stupid and impractical, like the pet rock, that they will simply fade into the dustbin of history. So let a few morons buy this, and if they get shot because of it good riddance.
Fester Addams
Unnecessary in open-carry states. Just glue your phone to a real 9mm and it’s all good!
gratuitous
@Dave: Strange, that exact thought occurred to me when I read Sen. Schumer’s comment in the original post: “We should be doing everything in our power to reduce the rash of gun violence in this country.” Really, Senator? You think it’s just a “rash”? How about a sucking chest wound of gun violence, one that doesn’t occur in any other civilized country on the planet?
Cell phone cases are easy. But the NRA? Better to look for every congresscritter to sprout wings and fly to the moon.
Paul in KY
Anyone who buys one of these is a complete moron. Any person of color purchasing one should get a mental evaluation for suicide ideation.