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New gun for seniors could be subsidized by Medicare

Filed by John Byrne

A New Jersey company says they have gotten federal approval to market a gun to the elderly and hopes to have it subsized by Medicare.

Constitution Arms says its Palm Pistol will aid seniors with arthritis who would otherwise have trouble pulling the trigger. The device allows individuals to shoot by squeezing with their thumb.

The company's president Matthew Carmel says its "something that they need to assist them in daily living," and has applied to have the gun approved as a Class 1 medical device, the same designation given by Medicare to walkers and wheelchairs.

Palm Pistol retails for $460.

"The justification for this would be no more or less for a (walking aid) or wheelchair, or any number of things that are medical devices," Carmel told New Scientist Friday.

On the description, it describes the weapon as "ideal for seniors, disabled or others who may have limited strength or manual dexterity.

"Using the thumb instead of the index finger for firing, it significantly reduces muzzle drift," it says, "one of the principal causes of inaccurate targeting. Point and shoot couldn't be easier.

"Carmel told a medical technology blog that they'd applied for FDA approval as a "Daily Activity Assist Device.

"The FDA said it had not yet approved the gun.

"At this time, there have been no formal designations of the Palm Pistol by the FDA as a medical device," a spokeswoman said.