SCHUMER: NEW HANDGUN THAT LOOKS LIKE AN iPHONE POSES SERIOUS THREAT TO POLICE, KIDS & SAFETY; BEFORE SALES START IN MERE MONTHS, SENATOR URGES SWIFT FED INVESTIGATION TO STOP WEAPON FROM EVER HITTING SHELVES; UNDER FIREARMS ACT, LEGALITY IS DUBIOUS

Gun Designed To Be Exact Replica Of iPhone—But Cheaper—Will Be Available For Sale In Just Months; With 4,000 People Ready To Pull The Trigger On This Dangerous Purchase, Schumer Says Product Is Imminent Threat Feds Must Address  

Senator Says iPhone Gun Could Already Be Illegal Under Federal Law; Urges ATF& DOJ ‎To Investigate Before Sales Take Off And Weapon Winds Up Causing Disaster

Schumer: With Sales Starting Soon, We Are Under The Gun To Stop This Dangerous ‘Saturday Night Special’

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to take swift action in preventing a new handgun-- that looks exactly like an iPhone--from hitting store shelves. Schumer says the gun could already be illegal under the National Firearms Act, yet, the product is set to be available for sale in just a matter of months. When placed in a person’s pocket, the handgun looks almost identical to an iPhone case and, because it is essentially hidden, the handgun poses a serious threat if law enforcement is not able to tell whether a criminal is pulling out a gun or a phone. Schumer is urging the feds to investigate before sales take off and the weapon winds up in the wrong hands.

“The latest ‘great idea’ for a concealed gun should come with 9-1-1 on speed dial because this iPhone gun is a disaster waiting to happen,” said U.S. Senator Charles Schumer. “This iPhone-lookalike handgun poses a serious threat to law enforcement, kids and more. Imagine a scenario in which a police officer is not able to tell whether a violent criminal is pulling out a gun or an iPhone. The bottomline is: the feds must investigate this before sales take off and this weapon winds up in the wrong hands. That’s why I am urging the ATF and the Department of Justice to step in and investigate these handguns now – before they hit store shelves.”

The double barreled .380-calibre handgun, manufactured by “Ideal Conceal,” is expected to hit shelves in mid-2016 and cost $395. Schumer said the handgun costs even less than some phones. On its website, the company says: “Smartphones are EVERYWHERE, so your new pistol will easily blend in with today’s environment.”

Schumer pointed to two reasons this weapon may already be illegal.

1)      Schumer said that to be legal under the National Firearms Act, a gun must be registered with the ATF. Typically guns that can be concealed, guns that look like wallets, pens and knives, are illegal under the law. Therefore, Schumer said this handgun, which looks nearly identical to an iPhone, could also be considered illegal. Schumer is urging the ATF to make a swift determination.

2)      Schumer also said the gun may not meet the requirements of federal law as it relates to the undetectable statute. The undetectable statute says a weapon is illegal if, “… any major component of which, when subjected to inspection by the types of x-ray machines commonly used at airports, does not generate an image that accurately depicts the shape of the component.” Schumer says under x-ray, this weapon may not have the metal components necessary to flag concern. If this scenario were confirmed, the weapon would be illegal.

Schumer is urging the feds to investigate both possibilities and to do everything in their power to stop this handgun from being sold. Schumer said not only could this handgun violate federal law, but it could also result in dangerous consequences if a law enforcement agent or even a child mistakes the gun for an iPhone. Schumer said this product is a disaster waiting to happen and that the feds should investigate this dangerous product before it is responsible for a death or deaths.