1. What is one potential ramification a customer might face by having the trigger of his firearm modified?
Once the firearms action is modified beyond its factory specifications the individual who commissioned the work and possibly the gunsmith who did the work may see legal ramifications because the prosecutor may label this firearm unsafe or dangerous now. Now if the individual owner of the firearm decided to do the work themselves and are not armorer level certified to do so, it is possible that the individual sees legal issues for manufacturing a firearm without a license. If the individual who commissioned the work claims the firearm was modified more than what was commissioned and attempts to blame the gunsmith for an accidental shooting, the gunsmith then can become entangled in the legal mess that follows.
2. What is one potential ramification a gunsmith or armorer might face by modifying the trigger of a customer’s firearm?
When a crime or accidental shooting occurs the responding agency may seize the firearm and take a close look at things like the ammunition used or any after market modifications that were done. It is possible that the individuals attorney advises their client to push the blame on the gunsmith who performed the work on the firearm in an attempt to clear their client of any wrong doing. It is one thing to drop a 10Lb trigger to normal 3Lb – 6Lb trigger but when a gunsmith performs a job that drops the trigger to a dangerous 1Lb pull then they may be asking for real trouble.
3. If there are potential legal consequence for completing a trigger job, what is one strategy practicing gunsmiths and armorers use to protect themselves? Explain whether you think that strategy is something you would use in your shop.
I believe it is smart for any gunsmith to have clients sign waivers that indemnify the gunsmith of any and all responsibility for wrong doings with the firearm after the work is completed. This legal document is all the gunsmith will need to present to the courts to clear them of any liability. This strategy is absolutely something we do at the current facility I work at and will be something I continue to do when I open my own shop in the future.
Resources
Uscca, and Thomas Kral. “Bland, Basic, Boring and Black.” Alpha Koncepts, 3 Nov. 2019, https://www.alphakoncepts.com/blog/bland-basic-boring-and-black/.
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