Smart Guns Could Be Coming

[Teddy B 17,252]

This has been talked about here. I think this is a great idea.

US Sen. Markey calls for personalized gun law

BOSTON (AP) — U.S. Sen. Edward Markey has unveiled a gun control bill he says will help reduce firearm violence by requiring all new guns to be personalized so they can be fired only by their owners or other authorized users.

Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, said technology exists to make guns inoperable for unauthorized users. He said the bill would make it more difficult for stolen guns to be used in crimes or against police officers and would reduce accidental firearm deaths by making it impossible for children to fire guns they find.

Markey, who unveiled the bill on Wednesday at a press conference in the Grove Hall neighborhood of Boston, also called on President Barack Obama to include $10 million in his budget proposal for gun violence research.

Obama last year lifted a 17-year ban on federal gun violence research, Markey said, but there has been no funding set aside for the effort.

‘‘No one wants children to get access to a handgun and hurt themselves or others,’’ Markey said, calling his bill ‘‘the type of gun safety legislation that everyone — regardless of political party or affiliation — should be able to support.’’

The Gun Owners Action League of Massachusetts said the technology championed by Markey is often flawed and smart guns ‘‘only work correctly in the movies.’’

‘‘No technology should stand between a lawful gun owner using his/her firearm,’’ the group said in a written statement. ‘‘We also find it more than disingenuous that a senator with very little knowledge of firearms, who has worked to stifle the Second Amendment, would offer mandated technology that gun owners have not asked for, nor supported.’’

The bill would require that within two years of enactment all newly manufactured handguns be equipped with the technology, which could involve having the gun read a user’s handprint or fingerprint.

Within three years of enactment, anyone selling a handgun would be required to retrofit it with the technology before the sale could be completed. The cost of retrofitting the guns would be paid from a fund administered by the Department of Justice.

The legislation also would direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to establish the new safety standards for personalized handguns and require all new guns comply with the standards.

Gun manufacturers would be held liable if they produce guns that don’t meet the safety standard two years after the passage of the bill.

Any gun control measure likely will come up against tough opposition in Congress.

The Senate last year rejected a bill requiring tighter background checks for gun buyers and a ban on assault weapons. That bill was filed in the wake of the Newtown, Conn., elementary school shooting massacre, in which 20 schoolchildren and six teachers and administrators were killed.

U.S. Rep. John Tierney, a Salem Democrat, filed the same bill in the House last year. He said it ‘‘harnesses the benefits of existing technology to make guns themselves safer.’’

Markey, who spent more than three decades in the House before winning a special election to the Senate last year, has been a proponent of tougher gun laws and a vocal critic of the National Rifle Association.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2014/02/19/sen-markey-unveil-gun-control-legislation/VyIAD6xn1YiYQOW991KiiK/story.html

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

stupid idea. like no one ever wears gloves in cold weather. like it's only available with small caliber pistols as the electronics can't handle larger caliber pistols. and this same bill wants pistols made prior to this to be retrofitted if sold.

Edited February 20, 2014 by charles!

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Smart guns won't make up for the stupidity of some of their owners.

[Teddy B 17,252]

Smart guns won't make up for the stupidity of some of their owners.

It's sad to think that guns could eventually be smarter than most of their owners, if that's not the case already.

[Teddy B 17,252]

stupid idea. like no one ever wears gloves in cold weather. like it's only available with small caliber pistols as the electronics can't handle larger caliber pistols. and this same bill wants pistols made prior to this to be retrofitted if sold.

Is the actual idea of a smart gun stupid to you? You've listed some things you don't like about it, and maybe a kink or two that needs to be worked out, but I'm not seeing how the idea itself is stupid. All new ideas and inventions have flaws that are worked out over time, that doesn't make them stupid ideas.

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

Is the actual idea of a smart gun stupid to you? You've listed some things you don't like about it, and maybe a kink or two that needs to be worked out, but I'm not seeing how the idea itself is stupid. All new ideas and inventions have flaws that are worked out over time, that doesn't make them stupid ideas.

valid reasons already stated. making it a law before the technology is mature is ridiculous.

[Teddy B 17,252]

valid reasons already stated. making it a law before the technology is mature is ridiculous.

No, you haven't listed any valid reasons as to why the idea of a smart gun is stupid.

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

No, you haven't listed any valid reasons as to why the idea of a smart gun is stupid.

odd, what i posted is from some gun forums, who are probably better informed than either of us.

[Ban Hammer 13,345]

here's some reading for you, if you are really interested in learning more.
http://bearingarms.com/senator-proposes-gun-control-regulations-that-would-destroy-the-entire-u-s-handgun-market-based-on-non-viable-technology-he-saw-in-a-james-bond-movie/

[GandD 5,966]

valid reasons already stated. making it a law before the technology is mature is ridiculous.

I agree with that.

I think its a great idea though and a should be strongly pursued. Gun enthusiasts should be leading this research. We all want the same thing, a gun in the hand of the approved owner only.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I don't think guns fit the image of the new, family friendly, sex free VJ. I'm going to start a Disney thread, and maybe one about hamsters too.

[Teddy B 17,252]

odd, what i posted is from some gun forums, who are probably better informed than either of us.

Charles, I specifically asked you why you found the idea of a smart gun to be stupid. Posting tid bits from a gun aficionado forum does not answer that question for you. In case you haven't noticed, my exception with your statement is specifically with your use of the word stupid in reference to the idea of a smart gun. The idea itself isn't stupid, and the technology certainly isn't stupid. So what exaclty is stupid about the idea of a smart gun?

Perhaps you meant to say that instituting a smart gun law in it's current state is impractical? That I can understand.

Edited February 20, 2014 by Teddy B

[Teddy B 17,252]

I agree with that.

I think its a great idea though and a should be strongly pursued. Gun enthusiasts should be leading this research. We all want the same thing, a gun in the hand of the approved owner only.

Gotta disagree there G. The sale of illegal guns makes far too much money for everyone to want that.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

[Teddy B 17,252]

I'm glad to see you're embracing the new family friendly VJ concept Spooks!