Following
the shootings of two younger sisters by their older brothers, Keystone
Sporting Arms of Miltown, PA., maker of the Crickett and Chipmunk,
marketed as "My First Rifle," announced a campaign today to arm younger
sisters with handguns so they can protect themselves. With the support
of newly elected NRA president James Porter, an Alabama attorney noted
for defending gun manufacturers, KSA stated it is acting to stem the
wave of recent shootings of younger sisters by older brothers.
Referring
to the Burkesville, KY death of a 2-year old sister who was shot by her
5-year old brother and the near fatal shooting of a Florida 6-year old
girl by her 13-year old brother, NRA executive vice-president Wayne La
Pierre affirmed NRA's opposition to any compromise on the freedom of
Americans of any age to own guns. "Tragic as it is, these deaths and
shootings could have been prevented if the younger sisters had owned
handguns," La Pierre stated.
Keystone Sporting Arms will market
a single-shot handgun in pink colors that is small enough and light
enough to be effectively used by a girl as young as 2. The weapon will
come in two models, each designed to coat-tail on toys and TV characters
popular with girls in the 2 to 10 age group. One will be called "My
Little Pistol" on the pattern of Hasbro's hugely successful "My Little
Pony." The other is "My Dora Defender" after "Dora the Explorer," the
CBS and Nickelodeon TV series and franchise. "My Little Pistol" will
feature a mane of bright combable hair emerging from the handgun's
grip. "My Dora Defender" is decorated with images of a big-eyed little
girl that evokes the TV character, Dora.
Adapting a slogan that
has become the war cry of gun rights activists, La Pierre stated, "The
only thing that will stop an older brother with a gun is a
younger sister with a gun!"
