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Thursday, January 21, 2016

The Challenges for Smart-Gun Makers

Obama’s reform push won’t create demand overnight.

“If we can set it up so you can’t unlock your phone unless you’ve got the right fingerprint, why can’t we do the same thing for our guns?” That’s the reasonable-sounding question President Obama asked during his Jan. 5 gun control address from the White House. The answer is a little complicated: Even with presidential backing, it would be naive to expect a market for so-called smart guns to spring to life anytime soon.

Digitally equipped firearms have been around since the mid-1990s. They’re designed to avoid mishaps and criminality by working only for authorized users. Smart guns typically employ either biometric technology, like fingerprint scanners, or a radio-frequency-identification device (RFID), such as a ring or bracelet that sends a signal to unlock the weapon at a certain proximity.

Hostility from gun rights activists has deterred any major manufacturer from marketing smart guns. Colt’s Manufacturing, for example, dropped a smart-gun project in the late ’90s following a severe consumer backlash. Retailers who’ve put startups’ products on their shelves have likewise faced fierce ideological protests.

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3 comments:

Anonymous said...

When your iPhone doesn't unlock with your fingerprint that becomes a mild temporary inconvenience while you take the time to input your 4 digit lock code. When your gun doesn't doesn't unlock with your fingerprint that potentially becomes a matter of life and death. Bottom line, this is a ridiculous idea that I will NEVER buy into! When technology is forced and induced into consumer product, the potential for failure increases drastically. Look at cars for instance. I have a classic carbureted truck that requires minimal maintenance and is extremely easy to operated, diagnose problems and repair. Compare that to my 3 year old truck with electronic EVERYTHING - fuel injection, emissions, variable timing, power windows, power locks, bluetooth radio, digital gauges, on board digital display, etc. I am extremely well versed mechanically and if that check engine light comes on or I have some sort of issue there is no easy home garage fix. It requires going to the dealership to have the the OBD scanner hooked up to it to figure out where the problem lies.

With technology comes complications and guns are not something that should be regulated with technology - the need to be regulated in a manner which keeps them out of the hands of criminals and children WITHOUT infringing on the rights and safety of law abiding citizens. Not to mention, inducing such technology will inherently lead to liability issues when this technology fails to operate properly.

Anonymous said...

It worked well in a James Bond movie! Mass produce it!

Anonymous said...

928 do you have a concealed carry permit?