Their prototype uses a button device on the safety that can be easily manipulated by adults, yet appears too unwieldy for kids. The young researchers developed puzzles of a sort that did not resemble guns, and gave them to 35 children ages 4 to 12. They hoped to determine which design would prevent accidental shootings and yet be pragmatic for gun manufacturers and users. The students looked at proposed child-proof designs, including trigger combination or key locks. They found, says Rydingsward, that gun owners are worried about the time and hassle of trying to remember a combination or find a key in the event of an emergency.
Many safeties are simple enough for children to navigate, researchers say.
The students designed a metal plate that can be fastened atop the barrel of the gun, covering the safety lever and forcing it into the position that prevents firing. When two buttons are pressed, the cover slides open allowing access to the safety. Through a linkage with the handle, the device would also reset once the handle was released, say if a gun is set down on a table. Rydingsward and Glorioso tested the child-proof replica with more than 50 adults and all were able to manipulate the device in less than two seconds. They admit that even that delay could draw complaints from some gun owners.