This Wasn't The First Plastic Gun Panic

By David Kopel. August 7th, 2018

Have you heard about the "undetectable plastic gun"? The gun control lobbies call it is "tailor-made for terrorism." The Washington Post reports that a state sponsor of terrorism is already attempting to obtain these guns. A Post columnist warns that the police "vehemently oppose the introduction of plastic guns into our armed society." Newsweek predicts the NRA will face a member revolt for opposing legislation to ban plastic guns: "This time the gun lobby may have shot itself in the foot."

The above is not today's news. It's the news from 1985 to 1988, the years of the first plastic gun panic. The supposed "plastic gun" was the Glock pistol, which contains more than a pound of metal, and is easily identified by metal detectors.

Today, millions of Americans own Glock pistols, and they are widely recognized as among the most common and ordinary of handguns. But back in 1985, the Glock was brand new, and the gun control lobbies found a brand new opportunity to terrify the American public. Many politicians and much of the press were eager to embrace the panic. Congress came close to enacting a wide-ranging gun ban.

This article tells the story of the first plastic gun panic.... .......

Many don't know or may have forgotten, all the paranoia that developed when Glock "went plastic". As with the recent paranoia over 3D printed firearms, much revolved around the erroneously perceived lack of detectability which eventually resulted in the "Undetectable Firearms Act of 1988". From a practical and safety point of view anyways, no functional firearm can (as yet) be without any metal - ergo it is detectable!

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