An enquiry into the function of guns and the role of design in the battle
for and against them
Christian Luke Mizzi
2016
Table of Contents
Introduction 3
Anatomy of a gun 3
Pistols 4
Launchers 5
Rifles 5
Machine Guns 6
Revolvers 6
The purpose of a guns 7
A debate on firearms 8
Issue with firearm acceptance 9
Design - A functional tool. 10
Alternative uses of guns. 11
Can design make guns more acceptable in society? 11
Conclusion 13
Bibliography 14
Introduction
Guns have had an undeniable role in shaping the modern world. It is safe to say that these
instruments are the cause of multiple debates about their value in a civilised society. One’s
stance about the topic usually lies on which side of the barrel the subject is standing.
In order to have a better insight about guns, it is prudent to delve into what instigated their
very existence in the first place. It is also essential to define our understanding of a gun so
as to get familiar with the underlying technicalities which could in turn effect the design of
the piece - a relation which we aim to investigate in great detail.
This research also seeks to uncover any stigma that put gun users under a bad light and
what has brought this about. In accordance to the primary concern within this text, the role
of aesthetics amidst this whole debate shall be analised in order to understand whether or
not this is a game changing factor or merely a way or beautifying a killing machine.
Alternative gun designs and many nonconformist applications for this tool can be found all
around us. This new reality brings about many questions about the world we live in with
regards to safety and essentially, our right for protection.
Anatomy of a gun
As one might expect, guns come in various shapes and sizes. Along the years, different
needs and different situations brought about major changes in firearms. Launchers,
Revolvers, Rifles, Pistols and Machine Guns are only but the the most popular weapons
when considering the small arms.
Pistols
(Bebald, 2013)
This is likely to be the first design of a gun that comes to mind upon mentioning the topic of
guns. It is through a vast exposure from media and the sheer abundance that these
firearms were produced in which made pistols so popular. These are designed to be very
portable and are jam packed with security features which make them an ideal candidate
for a vast array of applications.
Launchers
(World Guns, 1999)
This kind of gun is one of the bigger ones from the lot. While it usually sports the same
basic layout of a normal gun, it typically has a larger barrel to accommodate for larger
ammunition.
Rifles
(Sako, 2016)
Rifles are some of the most decorative guns which money can buy. This piece is naturally
very popular with hunters yet some acquire it simply for its craftsmanship and aesthetic
appeal without even ever firing it. This firearm is designed to be shot while resting against
the shoulder and thus features a more elongated rear.
Machine Guns
(Machine Gun America, 2016)
This type of gun is mostly know for its ability to fire multiple shots in rapid succession.
Some of the more advances models go up to a staggering shooting capacity of 6,000
rounds per minute, or 100 per second. (Guinness World Records, 2016)
Revolvers
(Rossi, 2016)
While many use the term revolver and pistol interchangeably, it is good to know that the
twor are actually somewhat different. While “pistols are handguns with one or more
stationary chambers” while “revolvers are handguns that use multiple rotating
chambers.”(Sobieck, 2015)
The purpose of a gun.
“In the middle of the 9th century AD, Chinese scientists who were trying to concoct an
immortality potion stumbled instead across an incendiary combination of sulfur, charcoal
and saltpeter: gunpowder.” (A&E Television Networks, 2016) This new invention brought
about more powerful weapons than those available at the time which provided for better
long distance combat tools. Early examples of guns vary from crude cannons to
flamethrowers.
While some may argue that a gun is merely a tool that makes it possible for the user to
“... accelerate a projectile from zero velocity with respect to the gun to a certain velocity
(such as 1200 feet per second) in a controllable vector” (Lawodevolution, 2010) others
argue that there exists only one true purpose of a gun and that is to kill. Lawodevolution
claims that most guns today serve the purpose of entertainment and sport while only a
small fraction are actually the cause of harm. While this might be a reality in most civilised
countries, it is an undeniable fact that firearms are still the go to resource for many
egregious attacks.
In light of the present situation, one is left to question the place of guns in a modern
community.
A debate on firearms
As is the case with many delicate subjects in society, one will find people to and against
the possession of guns. While some blatantly believe that holding a gun is a natural right
others argue that should this be true, this automatically infringes everybody else’s right of
safety. On this debate, Gerald Vernon, a veteran firearms instructor believes that, “The
only thing that stops bad people with guns is good people with guns." (Dumke, 2014) He
continues, “Legitimate self defense has absolutely nothing to do with the criminal misuse
of guns.” (Dumke, 2014)
Following a study published by Harvard School of Public Health, Vernon argument seems
to be defaced given that after a survey at Washington DC Jail, it turned out that very few
criminals are shot by decent law abiding citizens. (The President and Fellows of Harvard
College, 2016) In another independent national survey in America carried out by David
Hemenway and Deborah Azrael, they came to the conclusion that “Firearms are used far
more often to intimidate than in self-defense.” (Hemenway & Azrael, 2000, p. 257-272)
Knowing that the demographic is split on this issue of personal safety, one cannot help but
wonder if anything can be done in order to give the people peace of mind. In order to
come up with a plausible solution, it was essential to derive the foremost issues troubling
the less gun accepting segment.
Issue with firearm acceptance
Amongst the issues anti-firearm parties maintain, new technologies are providing new
challenges in safety, namely the realm of 3D Printing. Printing a plastic gun sets off many
red lights. First of all, although still somewhat expensive, with the right equipment and
knowledge, nearly anyone will be able to manufacture one - even people without a license.
If that wasn’t a big enough concern, plastic guns are naturally undetectable by metal
detectors giving a malicious user a window of opportunity.
“If the rise of 3D-printed guns doesn't pose much of a danger in itself, it does serve as a
reminder that new technologies are enabling individuals to do things that previously
seemed inconceivable.” (Reynolds, 2014)
Apart from this issue with technology advancements, some also find a problem with widely
available firearms with High Capacity Magazines. (Speiser, 2015) This is pretty self
explanatory and the idea behind it does make some sense. With less ammunition one can
potentially make less damage. Having said that, cutting a straight line deciding who is and
isn’t allowed to carry a High Capacity Firearm is definitely going to create some ripples in
the gun friendly communities.
Most of the general public created their impression about firearms from movies and video
games, and this is anything but a complete representation of the tool. (Parsons, 2009) In
order to better understand the ethics of gun possession, proper education should be
prevalent.
“Federal law imposes no design safety standards on domestically produced
firearms.” (Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, 2013) This is not the case with
commercially produced weapons and thankfully, renown gunsmiths and popular
manufacturers take this design element very seriously. Such “design and safety standards
are intended to ensure the structural integrity of the firearm and prevent it from misfiring or
malfunctioning.” (Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, 2013)
Design - A functional tool.
Design is typically associated with the aesthetic of a product yet with firearms, this is an
essential element which ensures efficiency while also secures safety. When we speak
about safety, one must keep in mind that the manufacturer can only do so much in order to
prevent a crime and essentially, almost all the responsibility is beard by the operator. With
regards to safety, the firearm manufacturer can merely facilitate the use in such a way that
the tool acts exactly as its owner intends.
“Some firearms are equipped with a feature known as a “magazine disconnect
mechanism” that prevents a firearm from discharging when the magazine is not attached.
Other firearms are designed with a “loading indicator” that indicates when a gun is loaded.
These features are important because a bullet can remain in the chamber even after the
magazine is removed, leading a person to believe the gun is unloaded.” (Law Center to
Prevent Gun Violence, 2013)
Aside from the all so important safety features that prevail through good design, the design
of the firearm addresses other elements which directly reflect on the function of the gun.
Essentially, design is what makes a firearm great and stand the passage of time.
It was good design that made the 1982 Glock 17 such a gunsmithing revolution. Due to its
plastic shell, the frame was way lighter yet still stronger than most metal counterparts.
Moreover, it was said to be even more durable and the material absorbed some recoil
when firing, making it easier to use. (Hambling, 2012) The 1933 M2 Browning is another
manifestation of good design engineering, bringing about a revolution in the cooling
system in rapid firearms.
Alternative uses of guns.
The popularity in their design resulted in guns transposing in other applications. One can
see guns used in entertainment, animal husbandry and even in the medical sector just to
name a few. PharmaJet has developed a modified gun that allows for a nurse to
administer a shot needle-free thus reducing health care costs and minimise injuries.
(PharmaJet, 2016)
Zoos and parks often use net guns to capture animals without injuring them. Another
variant which is also used in this field is the Tranquiliser gun which shoots non lethal darts
in order to temporally sedate the animal from a safe distance. Toy guns are also another
popular derivative from the lethal firearm.
Can design make guns more acceptable in society?
The predominant issue that society has with guns is undeniably that of safety therefore
enhancing firearms’ safety mechanisms could result in more acceptance for such a tool to
be in the hands of the common man. While this in itself is morally debatable, one has to
agree that with reinforced safety comes an added degree of peace of mind.
Recent developments in the industry has brought about new features other than the
general safety locks present in the vast majority of modern commercial weapons.
One revolutionary idea is a new gun design that uses RFID to authenticate its user.
TriggerSmart is a startup that has patented a system that relies on an RFID reader
embedded in the handle to communicate with a ring or a bracelet worn by the gun owner.
If the reader does not detect the RFID tag, it will not allow the gun's safety to disengage.
(O'Connor, 2012)
Similarly, legendary German gunmaker, Ernst Mauch designed a smart gun that can only
be triggered if the gun’s rightful owner is wearing a special watch connected wirelessly to
the weapon. (Rosenwald, 2014) In a bid to only work with predefined authorised users and
never by accident, another version which is currently being tested features a bulit in finger
print reader. This is also working in part to reinforce the validity of a country’s gunholders’
database and would make it much easier to track a lost gun and check its firing history.
(Smart Tech Challenges Foundation, 2015)
Apart from the element of safety, in a recent research, it was noted that the actual visual
recollection of a gun can instill fear in gun friendly communities where people are left to
rome around freely with their gun holstered. While concealing the weapon might only
reduce the initial visual impact, one must consider that should an easily hidden firearm fall
in the wrong hands, it could be potentially disastrous. Nonetheless, should the visual
element be such a factor in reducing the feeling of distress in a community, disguising the
gun could be the way forward for those who are to and against guns to co-exist since
should an easily recognisable gun fall in the wrong hands, it could potentially be just as
harmful. Kirk Kjellberg’s Ideal Conceal Pistol is one new age solution where a two barrel,
0.380-caliber firearm is masked as a mobile phone. (Barrett, 2016)
Conclusion
Guns have to be used with caution. Safety design elements help to bridge the gap
between those who want to keep a gun for safety and those who are outright against the
possession of guns.
While it is safe to say that most of these ideas are works in progress, this could very well
be the dawn of a new age where should it be of a common understanding that the right to
self defense entails carrying a gun, doing so will be more controlled and less invasive.
The moral debate continues yet the influence of design on this tool is unarguably an
element which strongly reflects on the public perception and its homogenisation. This is a
hot topic which should be treaded on carefully. As the founding father of the United States,
Benjamin Franklin rightfully observes, “Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain
a little security will deserve neither and lose both.”
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