Do assault weapons look less menacing when they are pink?

[spin]

So called "Assault Weapons Bans" such as the now expired 1994 Clinton ban and the one still in place in states such as California seek to ban rifles that our misguided legislators feel have no purpose in civilian hands. They identify "evil features" they can use to generically classify these "military style" weapons in sweeping terms. Of course these features, such as plastic pistol grips, barrel shrouds, and bayonet lugs have absolutely nothing to do with the firearms potential lethality in the real world and are merely cosmetic features. After all, it really doesn't matter what color the firearm is if it fires the same ammunition right? Well, in the "spirit" of the California Assault Weapon Ban I decided to do my best to alleviate the fears of my fellow citizens and gun-banning legislators when I put together a new AR-15 for my wife. Below is the result of my painstaking work to transform an Evil Black Rifle (EBR) into a Cute Pink RIfle (CPR). Introducing the Hello Kitty AR-15!



This rifle is 100% legal in California because it is based on an "off-list" lower receiver made by Stag Arms and has no evil features at all, instead featuring a fixed stock instead of the evil collapsible stock, a muzzle brake in place of the vile flash-hider, and a MonsterMan Grip instead of the heinous and malicious plastic pistol grip. The C Products magazine looks like a 30 round magazine body but is permanently modified to only allow 10 rounds.
http://blog.riflegear.com/archive/2007/12/26/hello-kitty-ar-15---evil-black-rifle-meets-cute-and.aspx

[Captain Hilts]

1. Kalashnakitty!!!

[aquart]

2. Will I get shot for laughing?

I think the kids will have a great time with this in the sandbox.

[lob1]

3. I read somewhere (probably here on DU) that someone actually made

pink assault rifles just as you did. It was made for women and they found that the pink guns were NEVER stolen.

[TheWraith]

11. Oh, there's plenty of those around.

Pink is probably the most common color for ARs after black.

[Tim01 2.0]

21. I know several women who have pink rifles. nt

[SPedigrees]

4. They've made a big deal in the past over toy guns that look real.

This might well be the reverse.

[tularetom]

5. Hilarious, actually

My daughter pimped out a ruger 1022 with a pink stock.

Actually it sorta does appear less threatening.

[benEzra]

6. That rifle was/is a piece of wry political sarcasm...

aimed at the idiots in the California legislature (aka the "Caliban") who think modern styling makes a gun evil.

A California gun owner decided that if the legislature was going to officially freak out over "evil black rifles," then he/she would build a "friendly pink rifle" instead. If you look closely, that's one of those silly California-mandated grips that makes you lay your thumb alongside your trigger finger.

[spin]

8. Damn, it would be hard to shoot accurately with that type of grip. (n/t)

[Tim01 2.0]

23. California grip. nt

[Fresh_Start]

7. it helps if extra ammo is carried in a designer handbag too nt

nt

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[spin]

12. Gander Mountain sells pink rifles and shotguns ...

Mossberg 20 Ga. Super Bantam w/22" Blue Barrel/Accu-Chokes/Pink Marble Stock
http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=417442&pdesc=Mossberg_20_Ga_Super_Bantam_w/22_Blue_Barrel/Accu_Chokes/Pink_Marble_Stock&str=pink+shotguns.&merchID=4005



Mossberg 10 + 1 22 Long Rifle w/Blue Finish & Pink Synthetic Stock
http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=417478&pdesc=Mossberg_10_1_22_Long_Rifle_w/Blue_Finish_Pink_Synthetic_Stock&str=pink+rifle&merchID=4005

Pretty powerful in pink
Colorful firearms pop up to attract women hunters

As Gary Goessner, his buddy and their two pre-teen daughters shopped the Gander Mountain store hunting department in Waukesha Friday afternoon, the two girls were immediately drawn to a rifle and a youth shotgun.

But it wasn't the firepower of the guns that attracted the girls' attention. It was a color: Call it blaze pink.

***snip***

The guns are aimed, so to speak, at girls and women - who are part of a growing segment of all things outdoors, explained store manager Chris Hanson.

To at least some extent, it seems, pink works.

***snip***

Gander Mountain and the Cabela's in Richfield - which was selling a pink pistol the other day, along with two pink long guns - are displaying more than promoting pink firearms.

But the decidedly feminine form of a traditionally male pursuit may be catching on.

Hanson said the pink rifle sold well enough last year in its first season in Gander Mountain stores that the pink shotgun was added late this summer.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/29437539.html

[kimjamey69]

13. knr

[kimjamey69]

14. pink guns

I saw 2 pink rifles in the gun store they were cute!!

[aikoaiko]

15. Pink guns send shivers down the spines of some folks...

...because they think they may be more appealing to children and people with a fabulous aesthetic beyond black and OD green.

[spin]

16. Well obviously we'll just have to have a "Pink Weapons Ban" ...

and the manufacturers will just color the weapons Fashion Fuchsia.

[aikoaiko]

18. I think there was a thread in GD about painted guns 6 -12 months ago and there was much..

[proteus_lives]

19. Your display is awesome!

:rofl:

[spin]

25. +1 (n/t)

[SteveM]

37. Oh, god, I'm getting woozy. Where's my banned substance?

[Euromutt]

33. With those of a prohibitionist bent, you just can't win

If it's any combination of black, gray, olive drab, flat dark earth, coyote tan or foliage green, it's "military-style," which is bad.
Do the same gun up in pastels and you're making it look like a toy, which is also bad.
Smith & Wesson X-frame revolvers are too big and powerful.
Sub-compact semi-autos (e.g. Glock 26/27/30/33, XD 3") are too small and concealable.
FMJ ammo is bad because it's "military grade."
JHP ammo is bad because it's "forbidden for the armed forces to use."

The bottom line is that there's just no pleasing some people, so you might as well not bother trying.

[X_Digger]

34. Which is the whole goal, obviously. n/t :)

[spin]

17. Does color matter when buying outdoor gear?

Does color -- specifically pink -- affect decisions on which equipment hunters and anglers of both genders purchase?

A survey conducted by Southwick Associates on AnglerSurvey.com and HunterSurvey.com shows that while color has some importance, quality is key.

***snip***

Hunters and target shooters said that the most popular color scheme was camouflage, with 62% of males and 60% of females chiming in with this preference. Other popular colors included black, green and brown, with pink getting 15.4% of women's votes. Again, the lowest preference for both genders included brighter colors -- white, yellow and multicolored. Thirty percent overall did not factor in color when buying firearms and related equipment.

***snip***

"Color alone may not woo women who are shopping for equipment," said Sapp. "However, if pink provides a welcoming entry point for women to try hunting, fishing or shooting, I can heartily embrace that."

Personally, I rather like the unique look of the Remington rifle pictured above. I'd always know which is my firearm and if the color keeps others from using it, all the better. (I once had some construction workers at my house who seemed to not think twice about using my neutral-colored hand- and power tools but never once borrowed my pink tool belt.)

--Kelly Burgess
emphasis added
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/outposts/2009/10/color-outdoor-gear.html

[Euromutt]

31. A-ha, as I suspected!

I'd always know which is my firearm and if the color keeps others from using it, all the better. (I once had some construction workers at my house who seemed to not think twice about using my neutral-colored hand- and power tools but never once borrowed my pink tool belt.)

I've suspected for some time that (at least part of) the appeal of pink furniture on firearms is that it discourages males in the household from "borrowing" them.

[Tim01 2.0]

20. My daughter wants pink grips for her .41 mag. nt

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

22. What happened to Tim01 V1.0?

[Tim01 2.0]

24. My computer pretty much caught on fire.

And burned everything important. Lots of stuff I should have had written down.OOPS.

[spin]

26. Well welcome to DU as the new 2.0 version. (n/t)

[Tim01 2.0]

28. You may be surprised at the complete and utter lack of upgrades.

And thanks for the warm welcome.;-)

[PavePusher]

32. You have a low post count.

Therefore, your comments are of no importance.

Just figured I'd get that unpleasantness out of the way early... :evilgrin:

Welcome back!

[DissedByBush]

29. My daughter got a custom-painted rifle

For her birthday, done up in "Kalashnikitty" colors like this.

She loves it, and it turns some heads at the range.

[Tim01 2.0]

30. AK style? nt

[DissedByBush]

35. Nah, regular rifle

IMHO, she's a bit young for an AK.

Besides, I prefer she concentrate on her marksmanship, not something normally done with an AK.

[spin]

27. Here's a picture of the pink rifle in the OP on the range...

[spin]

36. Pink compound bow ...hot pink Glock ...

and pink camo