Palm Pistol

[st0wgolf08]

You've heard of the Palm Pilot? Well, here's the Palm Pistol.

Constitution Arms, a small arms manufacturer based in Maplewood, N.J., is taking deposits for what it touts as the world's first ergonomically designed firearm.

Intended for use by the elderly and disabled, the single-shot 9-mm weapon looks like a giant bean grasped in the palm of the hand.

The barrel points out between the user's fingers. You "pull" the trigger by pressing on a thumbed button at the top.

"Point and shoot couldn't be easier," states the blurb on the product's Web site.

Even better, Constitution Arms says it's had it certified by the FDA as a "Class I Medical Device." That means doctors could prescribe the handgun to qualified patients, who would then have some or all of the cost reimbursed by Medicare or private insurance.

The gun will cost about $300. A deposit to get yours when it's ready is $25, though Constitution Arms doesn't say exactly when that will be.

Seriously? Can't you image old ladies everywhere digging through the potato sacks they carry as purses with everything in them, and accidentally hitting the button, and send a 9mm into someone? Now guns are a medical device? Really? I think this is a little absurd, but tell me what you think.

[EquipmentJunkie]

I hope this doesn't turn into a firearm or second amendment debate because for me it's not the fact that there is a gun involved, here it's about any dangerous equipment in the hands of someone it shouldn't be. To me it's no different than resident aliens or the elderly driving when they are not trained to or in poor health to do so. I'd much rather an elderly individual have this in their bag;

http://taser.com/products/consumers/Pages/C2.aspx

-AJ

[microcrayfish]

From the looks of it there's safety buttons so you'd have to be actually gripping it properly in your palm to actually fire it. Mind you, that won't necessarily stop little Timmy from rummaging around in grandma's handbag and finding an interesting looking toy and ****ing BANG! If it's designed for disabled and elderly people to be able to fire easily then a little kid's not going to have any trouble pulling uh pressing the trigger either.

[Titleist Man]

The whole idea is pretty scary/crazy.

[mako224]

Personally I love reading news stories where a little old lady shoots and kills an intruder or attacker. More power to them.

[EquipmentJunkie]

Personally I love reading news stories where a little old lady shoots and kills an intruder or attacker. More power to them.

With stories like these it is not the intended use that is a concern. I guess you liked the story in Santa Monica where the elderly man ran 10 innocent people over as well?

[mako224]

I guess we should ban cars then DA.

[EquipmentJunkie]

I guess we should ban cars then DA.

No but driving is not a right, there are qualifications. For my job both a firearm and vehicle are necessary, I went through months if not years of training before I was capable of handling either. By the way grow up, we all know what the acronym DA stands for, why not type it out? These childish insults do nothing to help your argument. Learn to debate in a logical way without emotion or turn off the computer.

[mako224]

Driving is not a right but thank god we live in a country where it is a right for law abiding citizens to own a firearm.

[Stacey_E]

I'm not going to get dragged into a whole gun debate thing. But to reply to the OP on the specific firearm in question...

I think a single shot handgun is a terrible idea. Do you even realize what someone who is crazy acting enough to be "shootable" is going to do to you after you pop your one shot, if you are not spot on perfect with that one shot?

A trembling elderly hand certainly wouldn't lend to the weapon's lethality. And all this is assuming you are being attacked by one person. Honestly, if you're going to do the self defense handgun thing, you best do it right. I believe a whistle would be more effective and much less dangerous for the target audience here. A taser or pepper spray would be much better.

[mako224]

You think a wistle is more effective than a firearm?????

[Stacey_E]

You think a wistle is more effective than a firearm?????

No, but I wouldn't really call this a firearm. More like a false sense of security.

[mako224]

Keep in mind something like this particular weapon is only going to be used at point blank range in a situation where the person's life is probably on the line. If owning that weapon makes that person feel more secure they should go get one and keep it close by. Its better than nothing or a wistle. .

[Fat Slice]

I don't want to pay for it (through higher premiums). If old people want to buy this "gun", let them. But prescribe it, so their insurance (meaning EVERYONE ELSE) pays for it? Heck, no - that's absurd. It's bad enough they get those free motorized scooters (which they should be paying for, not insurance or medicare). More baloney fraud that makes it more expensive for everyone.

[st0wgolf08]

I don't want to pay for it (through higher premiums). If old people want to buy this "gun", let them. But prescribe it, so their insurance (meaning EVERYONE ELSE) pays for it? Heck, no - that's absurd. It's bad enough they get those free motorized scooters (which they should be paying for, not insurance or medicare). More baloney fraud that makes it more expensive for everyone.

Yes this is the scariest part of the whole thing for me. I have yet to see the medical value of a handgun. I guess I'm just silly in the head, but I don't get this at all.

[michaeljames92]

My Opinion is no one should be allowed guns. Only farmers and such. Hence the number of deaths in Australia from guns.

[mako224]

Oh, so you want to live in a place where only the criminals and political elites have guns. Nice.

[michaeljames92]

Ahh no...If guns weren't legalised in the first place then very few people would have guns.