Trigger Locks Not Safe?!

[seattle-outdoors]

http://www.security.org

According to this page, there's a way to open most trigger locks -- without damage -- and it's so simple an eleven year old can do it. Of course, the report is $3... (Disclaimer: the author of the report is a friend of mine! I don't have any locks that are vulnerable [fortunately], but knowing him -- I'm worried.)

The thing is, what kind of implications will this have for the second amendment, if the anti-gun lobby can say that half of the locks we use aren't secure?

[stork]

I dont believe this report is very truthful. A child can open it in seconds? Maby with the key he could.

Could this be a scam to get $3 from us? I might have to look into this.

[Aught Six]

Could this be a scam to get $3 from us? I might have to look into this.

Considering that gun-grabbing trolls want to scam us from certain human rights, it doesn't seem like too big a stretch that they'd go after our money as well.

[8mm/06]

Might be true....I'll never know. All the gun locks I've ever received with the purchase of a gun have become depth finders for fishing. My guns are in locked cabinets as is all my ammo.

[vc1111]

And yet another brand new member enters the board...

[Shrewman Capote]

Aren't trigger locks a form of gun control?......Why would free people support trigger locks???

[Coastie]

The second ammendment doesn't say a word about gun locks. With the possible exception of California, there isn't a state that I'm aware of that requires their use. Most manufactureres of firearms have provided them for the past 10 years or so as a requirement of law but the buyer is not mandated to use them. It has been known for nearly as long as the fool things have been around that they are nearly useless so what is the point in your "friends" report? Does he offer an alternative? Can he tell us how to fix the ones that are supplied?

[seattle-outdoors]

I just finished reading the report.

A child (or, for that matter, anyone with an icepick or similar object) can indeed open the lock. The trick is to go in from under the lock between the rubber piece and the metal lock body. A sharp pointed object (like an icepick or a nail) can then be pushed between the locking dog and the threads that the dog engages. The lock can then be removed from the gun.

Judging from the photos, my guess is it would take about five seconds if you have some practice. Call it a minute if you've never tried it before.

Coastie -- If I recall, the idea behind gun locks is that they're a good way to secure your weapon when not out hunting, without having to buy a safe. Me, I've always run a cable through the eject port and out the bottom of the grip, locked with a proper padlock...

[Coastie]

I have understood the concept since it was first brought out years ago. The overall focus of your original post however still begs the question, so what? I have used a set of handcuffs through the open frame of a revolver for years and a length of aircraft cable with loops swaged onto it and a master padlock on semi autos as well. A report such as this has but two purposes, one to inform people of a possible problem (we have known of problems with gun locks for years) or two, to sell something bigger and better, so what are you and your buddy selling?

[seattle-outdoors]

It's purely informational. The only other thing that my friend sells is a $200+ book on general lock security, which none of you are likely to be interested in.