Smart Gun

From Freepedia

The Smart Gun or "Personalised Gun" is a concept gun that aims to reduce the misuse of guns by children/felons through the use of embedded "smart" chips. Currently in prototype, the gun relies on biometric sensors in the grip and trigger that can track a gun owner’s hand size and strength. The gun is programmed to recognize only the owner or anyone whom the owner wishes to authorize. One of the major projects involves the New Jersey Institute of Technology team, which claims the prototype identifies gun owners with 90% accuracy.

The smart gun is supposed to

• Reduce the likelihood of unintentional injuries to children
• Preventing teenage suicides and homicides.
• Limit the violent acts committed by criminals using guns stolen.
• Protect law enforcement officers from felons seizing firearms after a struggle.

Criticism

The smart gun does have its critics. One argument is concerning the use of untested (as in a real-life scenario) technology in a machine where a delay or malfunction of chips could cost lives rather than save them. Moreover the National Rifle Association(NRA) opposes any law - like the one intended to be passed eventually by New Jersey state - that mandates the sale of only such smart firearms instead of letting the choice to the buyer. This issue is such a concern that the New Jersey's law on smart guns exempts police departments from having to buy them. Which defeats the purpose of law enforcement officers using them in the first place.

Gun control groups meanwhile are concerned that it might in fact increase sales of newer and more powerful guns given the newfound sense of security. But given the increased cost of a "smart gun" a sudden surge in gun ownership is unlikely.

Nonetheless, the smart gun is generally seen by many as one that is likely to become more common with advances in technology.

External links

• New Jersey Inst. of Technology Has the complete details on the smart gun with pictures.