The Gun Lobby And A Dumb Law Are Keeping Us From Safer Guns

[doxydad]

Imagine a gun that a person could leave on his or her kitchen counter, without having to worry that someone else would fire it. That gun exists. A so-called "smart gun" uses biometrics or radio signals to stay locked until it's held by its rightful owner.

Smart guns could save some of the hundreds of lives -- many of them children's -- lost in accidental shootings every year. And they could reduce the number of shootings committed by criminals with stolen guns.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/16/safer-guns_n_5570670.html?cps=gravity
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[flamin lib]

1. I think the government should mandate safety features like it does fuel milage.

As it is now there is no requirement for even a mechanical safety. Set a date and require all new manufacture and imports to have (safety feature). Then sit back and watch Ruger et al jump through their ass to meet the requirement!

[shenmue]

2. Yes

[Starboard Tack]

4. I agree, and have brought this up several times in the Gungeon.

Invariably, it has been shot down (pardon the pun) by our more zealous brethren, on the grounds that the technology won't work, it's unproven, the caliber is too small, it isn't as efficient a killing tool, blah, blah, blah. And, of course, New Jersey. Well, let's get the law amended in NJ and grandfather in the existing handguns, but hold the owners accountable if they are stolen or the cause of unintended shootings. Also, any public carry should be restricted to smart guns. I think the most dangerous aspect of public carry is the risk of being dispossessed of one's gun by someone with criminal intent.

I feel positive that this technology will eventually prevail, just as seatbelts and airbags prevailed. Because it makes sense.

[flamin lib]

5. Its time we put 19th century technology behind us. nt

[Starboard Tack]

6. It's time we made them less lethal, that's for sure.

Guns and ammo designed for self defense are made ever more lethal, which I find ridiculous, considering the technology available today. The whole purpose of SD is to stop an attack, quickly and efficiently, not kill the attacker.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

3. It's not a dumb law.

It exposes the terrorists on the pro-gun side for who they are, showing how they turn to intimidation and death threats to prevent a legal weapon from being sold. (Edit: And I'm not calling all pro-gun people terrorists - I'm talking SPECIFICALLY about the people who threatened to harm or even kill the gun store owners who tried to offer the smart guns for sale.)

What could get around this? Create a state-run gun store that is required to stock at least one of any and all legal weapons available. Immediately, the smart gun is on the shelves and gets sold.

[Starboard Tack]

7. It is not a dumb law, but it wasn't thought out properly

Laws can be amended. This is a setup to fail. These laws need to be carefully crafted if we really want to save lives.