Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
We're working to fix a technical issue causing problems with our broadcasts. We'll have it resolved as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Gun Safety - Get Your Remington Repaired

It happens every year for me, those crisp early mornings, the angle of the light, even the smell, tell me, in a way that no calendar can, that hunting season is upon us. Hunting is a family tradition in Montana, a higher percentage of our population hunts than in any other state, and it is common to see hunting parties of two or three generations in the woods and on the prairies throughout Montana. In my experience, the stories from hunting trips are not primarily about the kill, but rather about the experience of being with family and friends in Montana's wild country. This time of year I also think about the reality that a Montana family may lose a loved one to a preventable hunting accident.

It’s good to remind ourselves, and our hunting companions, to be extra careful with guns. Those of us who do own and use firearms, whether for hunting or sport shooting, need to make sure that we emphasize safe gun handling practices, for ourselves and those we are shooting with. We need to reinforce the safe handling of guns, remembering to treat each and every weapon as if it were loaded. We have come to place too much trust in the mechanical safeties on our guns, but that trust is misplaced.

Fourteen years ago, here in Montana, on October 23rd, nine year Gus Barber lost his life when a hunting rifle that was being unloaded fired unexpectedly. Most of us who heard the news reports at the time were saddened to hear the reports, and it was especially so for parents confronted with the unimaginable pain of losing a child. For those of us who hunt, it was a sober reminder of the inherent dangers of firearms and the need to reinforce safe gun handling practices.

Unfortunately, the tragedy of the loss of nine year old Gus Barber’s life was caused, in part, by a defective product. While a Remington Model 700 rifle was being unloaded, the rifle’s safety was released, and the gun fired. The gun firing was an unexpected event for Gus’s family. A Remington Model 700 rifle accidentally discharging, however, was not unexpected, by Remington.

Over the years thousands of Remington Model 700 rifles have discharged unexpectedly, including many here in Montana. Faced with owner complaints and lawsuits, Remington, making a cost benefit analysis, chose not to recall the rifles. Remington chose instead to issue a statement to Remington rifle owners about proper gun handling. The statement did not alert Remington owners that there was a potential design problem with their rifles that required added attention to safety.

Remington knew it’s Model 700 rifles had problems. They even launched an internal program to develop a safer rifle. And they did develop a safer rifle, but chose not to market it.

We know all this about Remington Model 700 rifles because the victims of the tragedies that have resulted from Remington’s design defect have come to trial lawyers for help. Trial lawyers, and the victims’ concerned family members, like Gus's dad, Rich Barber, have uncovered the internal documents showing Remington’s knowledge of this problem, and of their knowledge of safer alternatives.

One of the legal aspects of the Remington story received little attention over the years – secrecy agreements in previous litigation prevented much information about the dangers of the rifles from being made public. With Rich’s hard work and the tenacity of the bill sponsor, we have been able to pass legislation in Montana to ban these secrecy agreements. The legislation covers all dangerous products not just guns. Rich’s purpose was clear and concise - he didn't want another family to face the tragedy his had, simply because knowledge of a dangerous product was hidden from public view by a secrecy agreement.

This summer Remington confirmed it will offer to replace trigger mechanisms on millions of Model 700 bolt-action hunting rifles, as part of a class-action lawsuit settlement. The final details of that proposed settlement have not yet been reached.

There are still millions of defective rifles out there, and thousands here in Montana, please make sure one of them isn’t yours or one of your hunting buddy’s. While we await the final settlement there are several things you can do, including taking your Remington into a gunsmith knowledgeable about these defects. Also, Remington is offering to modify the defective mechanism for many of its models, including some made in 2014 – the written version of this commentary on KUFM's website will have links to several of those warnings and offers.

Gus Barber’s death prompted us years ago to make this yearly plea. We do it because every year we hear from a listener who has had a defective Remington repaired. But, every year we also hear of another hunter injured or killed by a Remington that unexpectedly fired, so we keep telling the story.

Safe gun handling practices are not enough, these rifles have a deadly defect - PLEASE, check your guns, tell your family and friends, and just get these Remington rifles fixed. Please don’t wait - please do it this season. Protect your right to a safe gun.

This is Al Smith for the Montana Trial Lawyers Association.

The Remington Arms Co. has confirmed it will offer to replace trigger mechanisms on millions of Model 700 bolt-action hunting rifles, as part of a class-action lawsuit settlement reported earlier this week. http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/remington-confirms-it-will-replace-millions-of-triggers/article_7e185b4b-e1c9-57f0-85d2-30f1a1d2e966.html#ixzz3EA3lsdGz

Remington Arms Company, LLC (“Remington”) is voluntarily recalling Remington Model 700™ and Model Seven™ rifles with X-Mark Pro® (“XMP®”) triggers, manufactured from May 1, 2006 to April 9, 2014.
http://www.remington.com/pages/news-and-resources/safety-center/safety-warning-recall-notice-Remington-model700-modelseven.aspx

Recall if you own a Remington Model 700 or Model 40-X rifles manufactured with a bolt-lock mechanism.
http://www.remington.com/pages/news-and-resources/safety-center/safety-modification-program/remington-model-700-and-model-40-X.aspx

The link to Remingtons's Safety Modification program is:
http://remington.com/pages/news-and-resources/safety-center/safety-modification-program.aspx
From this page:
The unloading process for most bolt-action firearms with a bolt-lock mechanism cannot begin unless the manual safety is placed in the "F" or "Off or Fire" position. If you participate in the program your firearm will be modified to eliminate the bolt-lock feature and you will be able to unload your firearm while the safety is kept in the "S" or " On Safe" position. The operation of your firearm will not otherwise be affected.

If you have a bolt-action rifle with a bolt-lock mechanism, and you do not wish to have the lock removed, you must be sure to follow this IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE: Be sure the rifle is pointing in a safe direction anytime you move the manual safety to the "F" or "Off or Fire" position. As soon as you have lifted the bolt, immediately put the manual safety back in the "S" or "On Safe" position and then continue the unloading process.

CNBC prepared an hour long story on defective Remington rifles Remington Under Fire, it can be accessed at http://www.cnbc.com/id/39554936/

Federal Court Unseals Remington Rifle Court Documents (September 5, 2012) http://publicjustice.net/content/federal-court-unseals-remington-rifle-court-documents

Become a sustaining member for as low as $5/month
Make an annual or one-time donation to support MTPR
Pay an existing pledge or update your payment information
Related Content
  • GM, oh GM, what to do about you? You hid dangerous defects from the public and federal regulators, you determined 57 cents was too high a cost, to you, to…
  • May 1st was Law Day, America's yearly recognition of and reflection upon the unique role our legal system plays in our democracy. Law Day was first…
  • Al Smith, Montana Trial Lawyers Association.In April I spoke about GM, its problem ignition switches and the lax federal regulatory system. GM hid…
  • The U.S. Supreme Court ended its term yesterday with a bang, again. We've just seen the Hobby Lobby case that grants some corporate entities the right to…
  • When we think of America's legal system, it seems we most often think of our criminal justice system and the protections it offers to hold criminals…