Wisconsin gun dealer paints guns to look like children's toys.

[zanne]

http://www.freedomstatesalliance.com/?p=162

You're not gonna believe this one. It's beyond sick.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. WOW!

[DrCory]

2. Ohhh, for the love of...

So, painting a firearm with a pastel color endangers children? Absurd. What's a "banned color" anyway?

[lefty_mcduff]

6. Ahm.

Lessee. Cops could mistake toy guns for real, or real guns for toys.

The dangers of both seems pretty straight forward.

[DrCory]

44. Not really...

This issue is how the owner chooses to artistically embelish his/her firearm. The OP's link is a laughable new height of hysterical hyperbole and moral elitism. How the object is decorated doesn't render it any more or less lethal. Irresponsible ownership and storage does. The toy/real gun issue is separate.

[SteveM]

76. This is very old news. Go back through the DU Guns archives...

and you'll find all manner of pink guns, green guns, pink tanks (a russian T-34), and decorations, esp. "hippy" flowers and such. Seen many instances of folks getting shot for using a pink AK?

Banning things really doesn't get you anywhere. But Zanne has a fetish for the practice (and not just guns).

[L1A1Rocker]

105. Cops already

treat ANY object in a persons hands as a deadly weapon. That's why people are shot by cops while holding their wallet. So where exactly is the NEW danger?

[ulysses]

7. personally, I want my very own "Thomas the AR-15".

I think my son would appreciate it.

[L1A1Rocker]

106. And in this free country you should be able to have it.

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Turbo Teg]

86. My girlfriend wants the hello kitty

AR. She's into shooting sporting clays, but she likes shooting the AR. She's got a badass Berretta Urika shotgun with custom ghostflames on it. It's sweet.

[L1A1Rocker]

107. Start saving for Christmas!

[L1A1Rocker]

103. A banned color is any color that an anti-gunner finds offensive.

[villager]

3. That tells you all you need to know about gun dealers, and their apologists

n/t

[Maine-ah]

10. not all gun dealers are doing this

nor do many of us gun owners condone this either. If my daughter saw that, she'd be oohing and ahing, and I don't want her to try to play with something like that. She will be taught responsible ownership, when we feel she is mature enough. Until then, and even after that the two guns we own will be locked up.


spelling

[zanne]

Thank God for responsible gun owners like you.

Otherwise, the situation would be much worse.

[L1A1Rocker]

108. My daughter is getting a pink "cricket" for Christmas this year.

[razors edge]

11. Dealer is just trying to sell guns.

Buyer on the other hand has issues imho. I don't even care for camo paint on my stuff, as it has a bad resale implication, as does this stuff.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[razors edge]

18. You wouldn't know an asshat from

your grandmother.

A gun is an inanimate object, do you blame your car when you crash into a tree due to your own carelessness?

Dumb question to you, I know, of course you do, but most here understand logic.

[zanne]

23. Witty retort, Dik. nt

[razors edge]

Thanks zany. n/t

[L1A1Rocker]

109. No I don't blame my car, I blame my beer.

It spilled all over me and I was trying to wipe it up then all of a sudden this tree came out of no where. . .

[villager]

21. "Just trying to sell guns." It's hard out here for a pimp.

n/t

[razors edge]

24. Petty tyrants

aren't fairing well in the public image dept either.

[Turbo Teg]

89. I know It's great, isn't it?

[walldude]

4. Saw this on Du a few weeks ago

got tired of debating how stupid it was and gave up. You know only a couple hundred kids a year are killed by gun accidents, so this isn't in any way going to cause any more accidents. :eyes:

[Name removed]

13. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

25. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[walldude]

27. Maybe you ought to re-read my post

Or not. I argued that these guns were a stupid idea and that kids will get killed thinking they were toys. But don't let your outrage spoil that fact.

Psst, the little eye roll smiley usually means "sarcasm".

[zanne]

47. My bad, wall dude. Sorry.

I didn't know it was sarcasm. Sometimes I think a gun poster is kidding when they're dead serious. Sorry about that.

[Name removed]

75. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

85. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[iverglas]

94. my, my, my

FyurFly
75. Zanne, you really need to get laid
Seriously..some no holds-barred deep dickin

followed by

SecularNATION
85. Doesn't she, though...
Fifty-year old female busybodies invariably are in desperate need of some 'distraction', as they say. I guarantee you, her husband has no interest in taking care of it.

I guess I was right all along, and they wuz just hiding their true colours until they thought I wasn't looking.

[Name removed]

95. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[EstimatedProphet]

5. And?

[slackmaster]

8. When they ban pink Hello Kitty rifles

Only criminals will have pink Hello Kitty rifles.

:boring:

[jmg257]

9. I have seen pics of such guns (pink etc,) never thought much, but you are right - this is F&^%ed up.

It gave me the impression it is too...inviting for a child to think it IS just a toy and get hurt "playing" with it. Never a good idea.

[sergeiAK]

32. That's why you keep them locked up -nt

[L1A1Rocker]

114. Don't use logic here!! We are currently expressing dissatisfaction with free speech!

[malaise]

14. This people are sick, demented, anti-social

greedy money grabbing scum. Anything for profit :puke:

[DrCory]

43. Huh?

In what way is decorating an inanimate object with a popular cartoon image anti-social?

[zanne]

49. Do you guys all IM each other...

When guns are criticized on DU? It seems that way. Now please post in our other fine forums, too, Dr.Cory.

[DrCory]

53. "You guys" meaning what?

Are you implying something? BTW, I'll post where I please, but thanks anyway for the "invite".

[zanne]

56. Some people only post when the subject is guns.

Truth is, you can find gun forums all over the internet. I'm interested in what you have to say about other issues as well. Most of us at DU take advantage of the other forums because we're Democrats who believe in the same set of values. Of course you have every right to only post about guns, but that would make it seem like you have only one issue.

[virginia mountainman]

90. Nope, their just is allot more PRO gun Democrats..

Than you happen to THINK their is....

WE, are, the mainstream.

[SteveM]

88. Hell, women and some kids WANT another color...

This has been going on for a few YEARS, now. I guarantee you that a firearms manufacturer is not luring folks in to buy these weird colors. You recall Henry Ford's comments on color? "You can have any color you want as long as it's black." People rejected his car color, many women and younger shooters reject the "standard issue" black. I kinda prefer green with flowers on them...

[L1A1Rocker]

115. No, it's artistic expression.

[elehhhhna]

15. I want a SpongeBob Sig!

[-..__...]

17. I think it's a fantastic idea.

If it'll attract more youngsters (and girls in particular), to shooting sports and responsible firearms ownership, then why not
market a product specifically geared towards them?



Hell... Hello Kitty even adorns my home defense firearm (Mossberg 500 Cruiser) :smoke:



(and no... that's not Photoshopped).

[wtmusic]

19. How does making a deadly weapon look like a toy

do anything but encourage kids to pick one up and blow their best friend's head off? Whoops... :eyes:

[-..__...]

22. What's preventing them from doing it with a "realistic" looking firearm?

Gun owners with children need to secure their firearms or store them in a manner that the child cannot
"blow their best friend's head off" :eyes: as you so eloquently put it.

More importantly, they need to teach and educate their kids that guns are not toys and need to be handled in a safe and responsible manner.

[Lautremont]

26. I'd say the first step in making them realize they aren't toys

is to NOT MAKE THEM LOOK LIKE TOYS. Second step might be to not make toys that look like guns.

[-..__...]

30. It's not like these things are laying around playgrounds...

or in the activity room in your local day care center.

The people that gravitate towards or buy these type of painted up firearms tend to be from families that are actively involved in shooting sports as presents for their kids.

Typically... these are the kind of gun owners and young shooters that are educated and properly taught safe firearms handling.

[wtmusic]

40. Next: Drano in soda bottles

to teach kids to handle household poisons in a safe and responsible manner! How about prescription drugs in (you guessed it) candy containers? The possibilities are endless.

And you have no idea how silly you sound.

[SteveM]

102. You might like this...

<http://www.flickr.com/photos/davesag/4088101/> Don't leave your guns unsecured when kids are around and they won't be inclined to use them; color not withstanding. In the alternative, teach your kids about guns and gun safety with hands-on experience. I knew how the guns in our household worked and had used them by 10 years of age. In fact, I and all my brothers were told where the key to the gun cabinet was hidden so that we (and not an intruder) could retrieve the key and obtain shotguns and rifles (the ammo was in a separate locked drawer with a unique key).

[razors edge]

35. Nice looking Mossberg.

My step son picked one up a couple years ago. It hurts my hand a little after five shells.

The extended relief scope is a nice touch, all I have on my old Rem 870 is a red dot reticle, does the job though.

[Mugu]

39. I took a slightly different approach

an old 870 w/rifle sights and extended magazine. Lite, handy, and nothing to remember other than the safety and to count shots.

A bicycle glove on your strong hand will take most of the bite out of weapons with stout recoil.

Regards, Mugu

[WWFZD]

110. D__S, Why the pistol grip only?

Just wondering. I'd like to get a Mossy or an 870 soon, for home defense, and occasional plinking, I'm not a hunter. It seems to me that in a tense situation it would be better to have a stock with a pistol grip, for controllability. Why the pistol grip only, it is for maneuverability? Just feels better to you?
And that is a sweet setup.

[michreject]

20. It's been going on for years

They just found out about it? Those guys are dense.

[aikoaiko]

28. The horror, the horror.

You anti-gun fear mongers are really having to dig deep for things to panic about.

The color or paint design of a firearm --- wow. You have nothing left but shouting.

[-..__...]

33. Giv'em time.

They'll find some other nonsense to flap their wings and sob about in order to justify their irrational fears and behavior



http://allmax.com/MILT

[yankeeinlouisiana]

29. This is probably against copyright laws anyhow.

I don't think the makers of Hello Kitty would appreciate their design being on a gun. A bakery cannot decorate a cake with Mickey Mouse, etc. with frosting; they have to use a plastic figurine.

[sergeiAK]

31. They use Hello Kitty stickers to avoid that problem.

I even saw a Hello Kitty AK at the range once, the woman shooting it (~24 if I had to guess), said she built it with her father a few years ago. It was one hideous looking gun, but to each his/her own.

[jmowreader]

34. Bakeries CAN decorate cakes with frosted Mickeys

They're actually PRINTED Mickeys. I am not sure how the licensing works--whether you pay a big chunk of change up front and are allowed to sell all the Disney-themed cakes you want, or you pay royalties on a per-cake basis--but the printed cake sample books at all the stores that have cake printers have a big Disney section in them.

I asked the same question: how do you get the cake in the printer? You don't. They sell you an inkjet printer with a straight-through paper path and ink cartridges that are filled with food coloring. You print on very thin sheets of sugar, lay the sheets on frosted cakes, and you're done.

[Dukkha]

36. were the weapons less dangerous when they were basic black?

when you buy a firearm it is your property to paint any way you want. Johnny law can't do anything about it nor should.
and trust me, carrying around a Kalashnikitty AK-47 or Barbie AR-15 in public will most definitely arouse as much attention as a regular black gun.

[bobthedrummer]

37. Contact information for Lauer Custom Weaponry: Mike Nahorniak LCW/DuraCoat

Lauer Custom Weaponry
3601 129th Street
Chippewa Falls, WI. 54729
Toll free [phone]
Fax [phone]

This is a definite public safety issue.

[DrCory]

46. If you consider this...

a genuine public safety issue, than this should really get your blood boiling:

[L1A1Rocker]

116. HaHaHa LOL HaHaHa

[L1A1Rocker]

117. No. It's art.

[HuffleClaw]

38. its art. n/t

[galadrium]

41. my question is, who would want a gun that looks like this

All my guns actually look like normal guns. Its a stupid fad, nothing more.

[slackmaster]

78. They're made to appeal to women

:hide:

[SoCalDem]

42. That would explain this..

[zanne]

48. I realize that most of you gun guys aren't serious about what you're saying here.

You're defending pink guns because I criticized them in the first place. I know it's a knee jerk reaction and you'll defend guns and the industry no matter what. I'm not taking it seriously any more.

[SoCalDem]

50. Hah!!.. I am probably the most ANTI-gun person you would ever meet..

That pic just popped into my head when I read the title..:rofl:

[zanne]

51. Wow. I did it again. Sorry, SoCalDem

Sometimes it's hard to tell with gun people, y'know?

[SoCalDem]

52. No problem.. I've been there-done that

:hi:

[DrCory]

55. I defend the freedom of artistic expression, distasteful or otherwise. N/T

[zanne]

58. So let me ask you...

When there was a big controversy about the artist who placed a cross in urine, were you defending his right to artistic expression? If someone wants to walk around naked to display their artfully etched tattoos the way they did in Brattleboro, VT, were you "defending" them? In other words, will you defend EVERYONE'S right to artistic expression?

[DrCory]

81. Absolutely, yes...

to the examples you cite. "Piss Christ" seemed a pointless provocation to me, but I defend its right to exist and SECCA's right to display it. Anyway, I think I can predict where you are going with this, so I'll just check you now by saying it is extremely unlikely you will ever convince me that a "Hello Kitty" decal pasted to a pastel-painted AR15 comes even close to the level in which I might say enough.

[zanne]

99. I know you're not serious about approving of pink guns with decals..

You'd have to be a complete moron to do that. You're just having a typical knee-jerk reaction to any kind of gun criticism. And, gee, I really don't think you're the kind of guy to approve of the "Piss Christ" artistic display. In short, I doubt your veracity.

[Name removed]

100. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DrCory]

101. I am absolutely serious...

I do support "pink guns with decals", and your post is truly a museum quality specimen of conceit. It is obvious that your world view is stunningly simplistic. You have no idea what "kind of guy" I am. You seem to believe that no one can have an honest disagreement with you position, which strikes me as narcissism.

On second thought, considering what you have written in this and other posts, I'm starting to wondering about your varacity.

[SteveM]

104. I prefer fuchsia and lemon-lime.

[L1A1Rocker]

119. I saw some Bright blue

1911 Strier-Trip (sp?) pistols at an IPSC shoot once. They were really nice looking!

[L1A1Rocker]

118. Tisk, Tisk there Zane. Please don't call people liars.

This is a forum for people to discuss things. You are only opening the door for people to in turn call you a liar.

[benEzra]

66. Speaking for myself, I think the FSA/Bloomberg freakout about colored competition guns

is asinine, and I thought that long before you crossposted their talking points here; the "OMG!!!!!COLORED GUNZ!!!!!" hysteria is almost a caricature of the serious gun-control movement. People who race cars as a hobby often paint them in ways you wouldn't paint a street car also. It is equally possible that the person who did the pink AR may well have done it in order to tweak those who freak out about "black guns" and/or see guns as "macho" objects.

If a kid gains access to the gun and thinks it's a toy because of the color, the problem isn't the color, the problem is that you allowed a child unsupervised access to a gun (unless you think it'd be OK to leave a black rifle just lying around). "Don't worry, it isn't loaded" is no less dangerous than "Don't worry, it's a toy"--and if you actually picked it up, you'd immediately be able to tell it's not a toy just from the weight.

FWIW, none of my guns are painted, nor are my wife's; not my thing. But if they were I'd much prefer something like this Remington hunting rifle:



Of course, Bloomberg/FSA probably want to ban that too.

[benEzra]

65. LOL! (n/t)

[MiniMe]

45. This isn't about being pro-gun or anti-gun, it is about responsible gun ownership IMHO

When they started making toy guns look like toys instead of like real guns it was because people (mostly kids) were getting shot by cops because the guns looked real, and the cops thought they were in danger. Making real guns look like toys is just a bad idea for the same reason.

What happens when little suzie thinks that that hello kitty handgun is a toy and points it at Bobby and pulls the trigger? Yes, responsible people lock their guns up. Unfortunately, not every gun owner is responsible.

Own a gun, don't own a gun. Whatever. But don't make it look like a toy, it isn't in this case.

[slackmaster]

79. If the owner keeps it locked up, what difference does it make what it looks like?

:shrug:

[Vinca]

54. I hope the "Hello Kitty" lawyers end up owning this idiot's gun shop.

(There's part of your 20% of Bush supporters.)

[Irreverend IX]

57. What real danger is posed by these guns?

The CNN story talks about criminals using them against police, but criminals don't buy custom-painted guns at premium prices, they use whatever cheap crap they can get their hands on. And if a criminal did want a candy-colored gun, they could get a can of pink spray paint for a lot cheaper than the cost of sending a gun to Jim's Gun Supply.

These things are like the art cars of the gun world, owned by a small number of people who are heavily into the shooting sports and very safety-conscious; not the types who leave guns lying around the house for children to find. Guns like these have been circulating for years, and I've never heard of one being used in a crime or accidental shooting.

[zanne]

59. They pose a danger to CHILDREN.

I know that you'd like to think that gun owners who legally buy their guns and have no history of violence or mental illness are always responsible, but that's not true. Kids have an uncanny way of getting their hands on things they're not supposed to touch. Making a gun look like a toy ON PURPOSE is not only irresponsible but probably illegal as well.

[benEzra]

64. You'd keep that in a safe, same as for a black gun.

Unless you're saying that it would be OK to leave a black rifle laying around for the kids to play with.

Competitive shooters often Duracoat their guns. Big deal.

[krispos42]

70. No more so than a regular-painted rifle

What's concerning you, I believe, is that such a custom paint job is more likely to open up young shooters, especially girls, to the sport, science, and art of shooting This would result ultimately in more gun owners now and in future generations.

And this is what's really torquing you off. The continuation and perpetuation of the gun culture, which is in your opinion uncivilized and dangerous.





Having said that, I'll say that I agree with you about this. I, frankly, don't want toy guns looking real, or real guns looking like toys, although a pink AR-15 is no more of a threat to a child than a black one. I feel that it detracts from the seriousness of shooting, even thought I suspect it's unfounded.

[SecularNATION]

84. I agree 100% n/t

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

77. Which law?

Which law do you think applies to this situation? Personally they don't look like toys to me, they look like brightly colored firearms. I'm not positive that the picture of the AR-15 is a gun that the man in the link made, it doesn't appear on his website. Just a thought.

David

[L1A1Rocker]

120. Well

I'll respectfully disagree with you opinion that it is irresponsible as I see nothing wrong with it. I also doubt that you'll change my mind with your anti-gun zealotry but you can try.

With regard to illegal you are just plain wrong. You can lobby to change the law if you want but it is not illegal.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

60. Fake Picture????

I actually took the time to go to the website and he has no picture in anyway resembling the AR-15 in the link. He does have lots of pictures of colored guns but none with cartoon characters on them. Before you jump on me I don't know if it's real or not nor am I saying it's a good idea, but it is worth investigation.

David

[Redneck Socialist]

61. I'm astounded

The things people get exercised about here boggle my mind.

Seriously, do you really spend time worrying about what color people paint their guns?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

62. Any stats??

Anyone have any statistics on the number of accidental deaths with brightly colored guns? Since we know that so called "assault weapons" are used in less than 2% of homicides, I'm guessing these brightly colored assault weapons have killed very few (if any) people. Clearly any death is tragic, accidental deaths are almost always preventable, probably not a good idea to have a hello kitty pink rifles or hello kitty pool covers or sponge bob radial arm saws. But when it comes to making laws shouldn't we base them in factual data, instead of our emotional reaction. Very few of these weapons are sold, mostly to experienced shooters, who are financially well off, many who use them in competition. Almost all of the brightly colored guns I see are in pictures of 3 gun IPSC (International Practical Shooting Competition) matches, a lot of the people who participate in these are often former military, police, SWAT and are extremely careful with their weapons. Hope everyone is well, watch out for that flu bug it's nasty this year.

David

[L1A1Rocker]

121. Why worry with stats?

I mean were talking about how we feel here aren't we? LOL

[ac2007]

63. Some points

One, this is not illegal despite your desire for it to be so. It's personal property and it can be decorated as anyone wishes to.

Two, the Duracoat coatings used here are expensive. It can cost several hundred dollars to have a single gun done up. They will do it in pretty much any color or combination you wish. Frankly, if someone wants to do this and it makes them happy, who cares?

Three, responsible gun owners lock up their guns regardless of colors. Proper child firearms safety training emphasizes that ANYTHING encountered looking like a gun is to be treated as such. "Stop, don't touch, get an adult.". I have green, brown, black and white rifles. They are not toys and are never treated as such.

Which raises the issue of law enforcement.

As a general rule, anything that can be mistaken as a gun when used in a crime, in possession of a criminal or pointed at law enforcement is generally considered to be a firearm even if it isn't. If a criminal acquires an airsoft gun that looks real, uses it to rob a store and gets caught with it, he may well be facing firearms charges. It is what a reasonable person would interpret the item to be under the circumstances. If you use it like a gun and can't tell the difference, the law will often consider to be one.

I personally know of two cases where kids playing with replica airsoft guns in public have been nearly shot by police. The issue is not the guns; it is the parents. When I used to sell these to kids (which required their parents to be present), I would explain to them that it is illegal to play with them in public and if caught with one, you could be shot. The police would consider it a real gun regardless of orange tip and act accordingly. The looks on the parents faces was one of shock and the message got sunk in. I never wanted to see any kids shot for stupidity.

If the problem is the fear of children finding such a gun improperly stored (it is illegal in most states to leave a firearm unsecured where an unsupervised minor could gain access to it) and treating it as a toy, the issue is the education of the child. If this is a threat in our communities, then maybe we need stern, serious firearm safety training in schools and teach kids properly and to get an adult.

Even then, a kid could still shoot someone. No law or practice is perfect and there will always be stupid, stubborn or simply curious kids where their curiousity overrides their education. In such a case, the person who left such a firearm open for access should be punished.

Stop blaming the gun. A determination of "sick" is a personal one. I, for one, don't much care for pink AR-15s. However, if my daughter wanted pink handguards, grip and stock on her target rifle to keep her interest high in target shooting, I'd be happy to spend the money. Such as the girl pictured with such a rifle above.

If it offends you, you have the freedom to look away. You don't have the freedom to dictate your personal disgust on others as holy writ or law.

[Hoosier lawyer]

67. It seems that that the sky is always falling in FSA land

Run and tell the king, the gun has a pink finish.

[L1A1Rocker]

123. HaHaHa, funny post

[L1A1Rocker]

122. Does anyone here remember the old "cap" guns?

I used to have a bunch of them as a kid.

[virginia mountainman]

68. Last time I checked..

A blue corvette was just as fast as the red one...

nothing new here, rifles have been colored "different" colors since the Crimea war in the mid 1800's...

Here is a great starter rifle for kids, chambered in .22, notice it's available in several colors, and have been for years.


http://www.crickett.com/TheStore/Rifles/rifles.html

BTW, I am awaiting a call back from a local FFL Dealer, I have a new rifle coming in today!!

[slackmaster]

80. BULLSHIT!

Everyone knows a red Corvette is teh fastest.

[virginia mountainman]

82. Not as fast as mine Slack...

I have STICKERS, WITH, Asian characters on them.....

:rofl: :rofl:

[L1A1Rocker]

124. Yep, that's what my daughter is getting this Christmas. (pink)

[DonP]

69. Let's ban red cars too!

Obviously those red cars with the racing stripes are meant to attract the mentally deficient that think they are all NASCAR or USAC drivers and entice them to speed and have accidents. Probably even in school zones.

Hell, as long as we're going to pass laws and do social engineering based on the color of an inanimate object or the stickers on it, why stop with guns.

So let's ban red cars .. "for the children."

You anti gun people are just priceless at how easy it is to get a rise out of you with some little tid bit of a "novelty" paint job. These probably represent less than .0001% of rifles out there and they are used for the fun of it by target shooters. As previously noted thay are stored and trigger locked the same way their evil black rifle cousins are and are used on the range with all the same safety regulations all rifles get.

Or, maybe any of your people foaming at the mouth about the threat these are to America's youth can point out a case or two where they have actually been the source of an accident? Or are you all in favor of "pre-emptive regulation and control" now? I hear that pre-emptive action kind of thinking is very popular with some political factions lately.

Any examples?

Didn't think so.

[gorfle]

71. Oh horrors, it's a COLORED GUN!!!!

Give me a break. Guns are often decorated in a variety of ways. My latest Guns and Ammo shows a collection of "Guns of Islam" with firearms that have been extensively decorated with gold and jewels. Next you will be saying we are trying to appeal to people who wear jewelry.

Firearms have always been functional tools combined with aesthetic design. Some are highly functional with little aesthetic appeal - the so called "black rifles" fit into this category. Of course then they become the targets of gun bans because they "look evil" or "look like military weapons". Others are carefully crafted works of art, with engraving, inlaid gold and silver, and exquisite carved and finished wood, ivory, or mother-of-peral furniture.

With the advent of laminated stocks, some stock makers have made use of layers of colored material to make brilliantly multi-colored stocks:



The fact of the matter is, this is just another straw for the anti-gun folks to clutch at. They won't be happy no matter what color the firearm is. If it's undecorated, it's an evil assault weapon. If it's decorated, you're appealing to some unsavory market or sickly glorifying an instrument of death.

Frankly I don't know why anyone would want a pink AR15. I strongly suspect this is a satirical "thumbing of the nose" at people who want to ban "evil looking" firearms - black rifles. Like the news article said - the maker of Duracote says he doesn't get many orders for these bright, garish colors.

But who cares? If I want to have a fuschia firearm, so what? A firearm is just as deadly no matter what color it is. Children should not have unsupervised access to firearms no matter what color they are. And police should shoot people pointing guns at them no matter what color they are. I don't see the problem here.

[WWFZD]

87. Good post gorfle

You summed up the irrational fears of the controlling personalities very well.
I'd like to get a Dragunov stock like that for my SKS. Except that it already rubbed my ass raw to pay $50 for a black Monte Carlo for my $100 chinese SKS - which shoots anything I put into it accurately and without fail, with a very light cleaning every 1000 rounds or so.
Love that SKS.

[SteveM]

93. Hey, no "COLORED!" That went out with Civil Rights Act of 1964...

I think you're right about the thumbing nose bit. Also, with so many women getting into shooting, it was bound to happen; I mean, who wants the same ol' LBD: Little Black Deringer?

[bossy22]

72. technically

the article is wrong- it is not an Assault weapon- it does not have a protruding handgrip or flashhider...it actually complies fully with CA assault weapon law- the toughest on the books. IT just goes to show you that the whole "Assault weapon" mantra is a big sham and that it is just an outright attempt to ban semi-autos by looking at what the majority of semi-auto guns had in common cosmetically and banning that. This allows them to say "you can own any semi-auto rifle you want that doesnt have these features- and the reality is that very few semi-auto's do not have these features- and usually those that dont have them get banned by name. its deceitful and plain wrong.

[EricTeri]

73. Ultimately

It doesn't matter what color they are, what they look like or anything else. People think their irrational fear of them justifies using force to take them away from others. They people don't have the guts to use force themselves, but want to endanger others lives by demanding they use force to take them away. They don't even have the self respect to acknowledge the truth about their fears and hide their irrational terror behind lies and insults, combined with a massive victim complex and passive-aggressive behavior.

[benEzra]

74. Ah, I didn't notice the California grip...most definitely intended as wry commentary. (n/t)

[krispos42]

98. Yeah, I just noticed that...

...how the hell do you fire it? Where do you grab with your hand to pull the trigger???

[benEzra]

83. Painted guns and competitive shooters...

Painted guns aren't unusual, though Hello Kitty guns are. But given the location, the gun in the OP was pretty obviously a political statement to the clue-deficient in Sacramento.

[NewMoonTherian]

91. I love the end of the story.

"...Mr. Lauer created the Bloomberg Collection, which consists of a series of banned colors..."

"We are appalled by the blatant disregard for children’s safety and disrespect for those who were trying to ensure that safety..."

Rather than getting all upset about Bloomberg's nonsensical ban, Lauer made something hilarious out of it, and the FSA got all butthurt about THAT!

On a serious note, though, whoever opts for bright, "attractive" colors needs to exercise some extreme caution and keep these out of small hands. Don't be a knucklehead. If you've got kids, they, not fashion, are priority one.

[chunkstyle5]

92. What's "beyond sick"

Is Freedom States Alliance's BS. When AR's were scary black, they used that scariness to try to get them banned. Now, some are cute pink, and they think that's a reason to get them banned, too! True hypocrisy.

Fact is, civilian AR's kill almost no one in the US. No criminal is gonna blow $1400+ on a custom AR to rob a liquor store, when a $200 street Hi-Point works just as well. The chilhood accident thing is also bogus. Sure, accidental death of a child is a tragedy, but American children are more likely to drown in mop buckets than shoot themselves. They are considerably MORE likely to drown in either bathtubs or swimming pools, but no one is thinking to ban these things, to prevent childhood drownings.

FSA is nothing but a lie shop, it exists for no other reason but to spread false anti-gun hysteria.

[-Wolverine-]

96. Who cares?

Big whoopy do. Dura-Coat has been around for a while, I am surprised you noticed it just now.

I don't see the issue, in a sense its freedom of speech. Just as painting your car a certain color is an act of expression. Whats the difference if the AR-15 is Hello Kitty or black? Its still an AR-15. The fact that you got this from the FSA,which means you were surfing their web site, discredits your position entirely.

[DeadEyeDyck]

97. The artwork is simply a Dura Coat

The shop offers a Dura Coat to the weapon. BFD! It is a not brushed on sufface that the buyer can choose among very many styles. Is there any reason a gun must look like every other? I guess we can only have black cars. Get a grip. I have seen pink cars. Was the painter cattering to kids to steal the car to joy-ride?

[nuclearfishin]

111. If my wife.........

wants a pink AR, I have 5 AR's already, she shouldn't be able to have it? My wife doesn't like pink, she refused to even look at pink motocycle helmets, but I'll be damned if you or anyone else will take that choice away from her. Then again, I don't really want a pink AR in my safe.

Since we don't have kids, I guess my wife and I would be exempt from the "pink law".

[Xenotime]

112. What a sick fuck.. Just fucking put Fisher Price across the damn thing.

[benEzra]

113. That gun was a political statement...look at the grip.

That's a bastardized California AR-15 (.22 centerfire), which happens to be the most popular civilian target rifle in the United States outside of California, but was banned in CA because of its styling (protruding handgrips were deemed eeeee-villll in CA several years ago). So an unfortunate owner, required by law to put that idiotic grip on his postban rifle to meet the silly grip shape rules, decided to thumb his nose at the legislature by turning his Evil Black Rifle into a Friendly Pink Rifle.

The objective here wasn't to make the rifle look like a toy; it was satirizing the fearmongering about small-caliber civilian rifles with handgrips that stick out.

I have seen more tastefully colorized rifles in the hands of target shooters outside CA, though...

[L1A1Rocker]

126. You'r post

is 100% correct!

[L1A1Rocker]

125. Grow up. Please.