The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Another "Smart Gun" Bill, but what about Manufacturers Liabilities?

62coltnavy · February 21, 2014, 02:48 AM

KyJim is correct: manufacturers can be held liable for producing defective products. If your gun blows up in your face, or fires when no one is pulling the trigger, etc., the manufacturer can be held liable for any resulting injury or death. And that would be strict liability--no need to prove negligence, only defect.

So let's take this one step further. Let's say your smart gun tech fails and your gun does not shoot. Is it too far a stretch to suggest that the manufacturer would be sued by your estate when you are unable to defend yourself with your faulty gun? You bet your bippy.

As an aside, someone mentioned cost. The only smart gun on the market today is a German .22LR semiauto pistol that has a MSRP of $1300. And the company that builds it is losing money (probably because they can't sell them, but that's another story.) So we are talking about $800-$1000 additional cost to produce such a gun.

February 21, 2014, 02:48 AM	#14
62coltnavy Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2011 Posts: 356	KyJim is correct: manufacturers can be held liable for producing defective products. If your gun blows up in your face, or fires when no one is pulling the trigger, etc., the manufacturer can be held liable for any resulting injury or death. And that would be strict liability--no need to prove negligence, only defect. So let's take this one step further. Let's say your smart gun tech fails and your gun does not shoot. Is it too far a stretch to suggest that the manufacturer would be sued by your estate when you are unable to defend yourself with your faulty gun? You bet your bippy. As an aside, someone mentioned cost. The only smart gun on the market today is a German .22LR semiauto pistol that has a MSRP of $1300. And the company that builds it is losing money (probably because they can't sell them, but that's another story.) So we are talking about $800-$1000 additional cost to produce such a gun.