New gun for seniors could be subsidized by Medicare

[Are_grits_groceries]

A New Jersey company says they have gotten federal approval to market a gun to the elderly and hopes to have it subsized by Medicare.

Constitution Arms says its Palm Pistol will aid seniors with arthritis who would otherwise have trouble pulling the trigger. The device allows individuals to shoot by squeezing with their thumb.

The company's president Matthew Carmel says its "something that they need to assist them in daily living," and has applied to have the gun approved as a Class 1 medical device, the same designation given by Medicare to walkers and wheelchairs.

Palm Pistol retails for $460.

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Company_hopes_to_gun_for_...

Hope they don't mistake it for an inhaler.

[Why Syzygy]

1. "Assist them in daily living"?

They've got to shoot their way out of jams all day long? sheesh My old age hasn't gotten QUITE that bad yet.

[Mari333]

2. oh, this is the perfect christmas gift for my 83 yr old mother

she freaks out when someone slams a door in her apt complex. god help the next UPS man who comes to her door now.

[Davis_X_Machina]

3. Laugh now...

...but when they come to get you to put out on the ice floe, you'll be laughing out of the other side of your mouth.

[TahitiNut]

4. They sell it with a laser sight, too.

As long as they don't paint it in a camouflage pattern and get it classified as an "assault weapon" ... go for it.

[Frustratedlady]

5. Probably wouldn't be too difficult to aim that device inward.

One way of getting rid of those expensive Medicare patients.

I thought I'd seen it all, but this is about as bizarre as it gets. I thought it was going to be for some type of injection. Well, I guess it is.

I'm losin' it! Sheesh!

[katmondoo]

6. Will they make one in pink for the ladies?

[benEzra]

7. Publicity stunt.

The gun doesn't even exist (it appears to be a concept), and hasn't been classified as a medical device. Slow news day, I guess.

Seniors use regular handguns and carbines every day. And most wouldn't pay $460 for a single-shot 9mm with no sights, when you could buy a Hi-Point carbine AND a used revolver with a light trigger pull for that price.