The world of firearms is constantly evolving, with innovations ranging from enhanced safety features to clandestine designs. This article delves into the history and controversies surrounding concealed firearms, focusing on two distinct cases: the Taurus pistol recall due to safety defects and the emergence of cell phone guns as a modern form of concealed weaponry.
The Taurus Pistol Recall: A Case of Defective Safety Systems
Taurus International, a Brazilian firearms manufacturer with operations in Miami, faced a significant crisis when a class-action lawsuit alleged that its pistols contained a safety system defect. This defect purportedly caused the pistols to inadvertently fire when jarred or dropped, posing a serious risk to users.
Taurus PT111 G2 Pistol
The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Florida, led to a settlement involving the recall of nearly one million Taurus pistols. A sheriff’s deputy served as the lead plaintiff in the case, highlighting the potential dangers faced by law enforcement officers.
The pending settlement offered various forms of relief to eligible class members, including:
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- Inspection and repair of pistols
- Replacement pistols
- Cash payments for returning pistols
The settlement agreement required Taurus to issue a recall by buying back affected firearms or fixing the issue and providing safety instructions. Despite the voluntary recall, Taurus denied any design defects in the models.
The lawsuit alleged that there were safety defects in the nine models that caused them to fire when the trigger is pulled even though the safety in the "on" or "safe" position and others when dropped or bumped. The alleged defects are attributable to the lack of a "trigger safety blade" within the semi-automatic pistols, the lawsuit claims.
Affected Models:
- PT-111 Millennium
- PT-132 Millennium
- PT-138 Millennium
- PT-140 Millennium
- PT-145 Millennium
- PT-745 Millennium
- PT-609
- PT-640
- PT-24/7
The settlement agreement required Taurus to both issue a recall by buying-back affected firearms, or fix the issue and provide safety instruction.
History of the Case
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The lead plaintiff in the class-action lawsuit is Chris Carter, a sheriff's deputy in Scott County Iowa who had a PT140 Millennium PRO pistol. He alleged that on July 29, 2013 while serving on a narcotics detail he pursued a fleeing suspect. As he ran, his pistol fell from his holster, hitting the ground and discharging a bullet that struck a nearby unoccupied vehicle.
One case says a Taurus PT 609 9mm handgun discharged as an Alabama man tried to seat a magazine and the round pierced his hand, his wife’s arm and their 11-year-old son’s neck, which killed him.
The second case says a Taurus 24/7 PRO DS 9mm handgun discharged when it fell out of a holster and hit the ground. The round struck owner in the leg and he suffered extensive tissue, bone, nerve and muscle damage.
Along with documented evidence and video, the Sao Paulo Military Police in Brazil recalled all 98,000 Taurus 24/7 pistols issued to their personnel after discovering the pistols could be discharged without the trigger being pulled.
After settling a $30 million class action suit over a defective handgun, Taurus International’s chief executive officer said the agreement is a step to rebuild the brand’s credibility. The settlement agreement requires Taurus to both issue a recall by buying-back affected firearms, or fix the issue and provide safety instruction.
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The process, however, is pending a judge's final ruling on a settlement.
Settlement Terms
- Provide an enhanced warranty to allow any owner - even if it isn't the original owner and for the life of the pistol - to submit the handgun for inspection and repair, if possible. If the defects can't be repaired Taurus will offer to replace the pistol with a similar new one. Normal inspection and shipping fees and labor costs will be waived.
- Produce on-line safety training videos for those customers who bought the pistols to show them how to handle and carry the pistols to avoid dropping them and how to ship them for warranty repairs.
- Allow customers who bought the pistols to send their pistols back for cash payments. The payments will vary up to $200, depending on how many pistols are returned.
Under the settlement total cash payments are capped at $30 million. According to court documents, the plaintiffs' attorneys also are seeking up to $9 million for fees, costs and expenses.
Wheeles estimates that with the cash payment cap, repair and replacement of guns, and attorneys' fees, the cost to Taurus will eventually total more than $50 million.
The Ideal Conceal Pistol: A Smartphone in Disguise
In recent years, the concept of concealed firearms has taken a new turn with the development of guns designed to resemble everyday objects. One notable example is the Ideal Conceal Pistol, a double-barreled, .38-caliber handgun designed to look like a smartphone.
Ideal Conceal Pistol
Kirk Kjellberg, the creator of the cellphone handgun, said the criticism is unfair and unwarranted. Other guns with an approximately square shape are already on the market, he said. He noted that his .380-caliber gun is an adaptation of a "derringer" design that has existed for about a century. It takes two bullets and does not have any automatic or semiautomatic features. Clicking the safety off opens the gun so it is ready to fire.
The gun's creator, Kirk Kjellberg, said his .380-caliber gun is an adaptation of a "derringer" design that has existed for about a century. It takes two bullets and does not have any automatic or semiautomatic features.
Kjellberg said he got the idea for the phone-like gun when he was in a restaurant last summer, his jacket caught on a handle, and a young boy spotted his weapon. He isn’t properly licensed to manufacture such a weapon, though, so he connected with a friend at a Big Lake engineering company that has federal clearance for weapon design. The site advertises the handgun at $395. Much engineering work remains, he said, and a prototype will not be ready until June. Production isn’t likely to start until October at the earliest.
The introduction of such a weapon has sparked significant controversy, with concerns raised about its potential misuse and the challenges it poses for law enforcement. Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton voiced strong opposition, calling for a national prohibition on the sale of iPhone-resembling guns.
Dayton said he would write to New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer, who plans to ask the federal government to investigate and potentially stop sales of the iPhone-resembling guns, about the subject. “I think this requires a national prohibition,” Dayton said.
He said, “This is something that people would carry to defend themselves if they’re attacked. ... Mine is legal from a federal standpoint,” he said. But, he added, “people fear what they do not understand. If they knew the concealed-carry market, they’d know my product is not a threat. There are more-powerful guns that can be concealed as easily or more easily than mine.”
The Vugrek Cell Phone Gun: Ingenuity for Nefarious Purposes
Another example of a clandestine firearm is the cell phone gun designed by Mirko Vugrek. This unique firearm, disguised as an old-school cell phone, contains four .22 rimfire barrels, each with its own firing pin. The phone’s buttons serve as triggers, allowing for four shots.
Vugrek Cell Phone Gun
This device started appearing around 2007-2008 and led investigators straight back to the Vugrek family in Croatia. Mirko Vugrek initially developed the Agram 2000, a submachine gun.
The Vugrek cell phone gun is a stark reminder of the ingenuity that can be applied for nefarious purposes. It’s a well-engineered piece of equipment that serves as a cautionary tale.
Understanding such inventions is crucial for our collective safety and preparedness.