Releasable handle assembly with inertial blocking member

An inertial blocking member subassembly of a handle assembly for a vehicle door includes a blocking member pivotally rotatable about an axis of rotation, and the blocking member has a center of gravity offset from the axis of rotation. The blocking member is responsive to an acceleration force acting thereon to rotate about the axis of rotation from an at rest position in which the blocking member does not prevent unlatching of the vehicle door, to an engagement position in which the blocking member prevents unlatching of the vehicle door. In the engagement position, the center of mass is positioned between the axis of rotation and a vector of the acceleration force acting in a direction toward the center of mass and the axis of rotation, and the center of mass, the axis of rotation and the vector of the acceleration force are approximately in line with one another.