Those who support the Second Amendment should prepare for incoming. A new idea that has yet to become a reality called smart guns is being pushed, prodded, and passed by state legislatures and endorsed by candidates running for the presidency. Despite the speculative nature of the concept, it’s best to be armed and ready for the latest assault on the right to bear arms.
Smart guns, or personalized firearms, would theoretically have radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips embedded and coded with the owner’s fingerprint. This sort of biometric device would hypothetically prevent unauthorized people from firing your weapon. The intention is to keep children and criminals with itchy trigger fingers away from firearms.
Great Expectations with Myriad Flaws
Gun grabbers and the like are salivating at the prospect of legislating this idea into existence. But there are reasons against it – sound, intelligent objections to this technology. Here are but a few:
The Sweat Factor – Perspiration can and often does alter biometric data. It’s entirely possible that a little sweat might occur when one prepares to squeeze a trigger. Water or moisture of any kind makes for a messy situation with biometrics. Ever tried to tap out a text message on your phone with a wet finger? If so, then you get the picture.
Technological SNAFUs – If technology worked 100% of the time, there would be no need for a mammoth business known as tech support. Firearms – if kept up to speed – are remarkably reliable devices. That constancy can be significant when your life depends on it. Turning a weapon into a complex piece of technology will undoubtedly lead to someone’s Waterloo. And then who will take the blame when the gun doesn’t fire?
It’s Potentially Racist – This may seem an odd flaw, but think about it. Fancy new technology isn’t free. If it were every smartphone would cost the same. Mandating that all new firearms come equipped with smart technology saddles the potential buyer with having to purchase a higher priced weapon. As recently reported by Liberty Nation’s Jeff Charles, gun control has racist roots, and personalized guns would just become another hurdle for blacks in poor neighborhoods to overcome should they want to buy a weapon for protection. Of course, we stipulate that all black people are not economically disadvantaged. But the reality of inner-city gun violence is evident by the numbers. The state should not be in the business of pricing poorer people out of purchasing a firearm for protection be they black or white.
Time for Uncle Sam to Pony Up – Gun grabbers aren’t satisfied that firearms manufacturers will move fast enough with the development of smart gun technology. As a workaround, they are pressing forward with a government funding scheme. Since taxpayers are always footing the bill for everything, why not? With government-financing comes government oversight, which inexorably leads to government control. The question that naturally arises is: Do Americans want the clammy fingers of the state all over their firearms?
Legislatures Open Fire
Q – James Bond
Is this all theory? Well, no. State legislatures are moving forward with all due speed. Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) has introduced a bill called The Start Advancing Firearms Enhancements and Technology (SAFETY) Act. The point of this legislation would be to “provide incentives for manufacturers and consumers that would promote the development and purchase of smart-gun technology,” according to The Wilton Bulletin. New Jersey was first to pass so-called smart gun technology legislation back in 2002, but since then Maryland and California have joined the amen chorus. At this point, these are only laws on the books since there are no smart guns on the market. But you can bet one day there will be, and then these states will be locked and loaded.
As recently as the Democratic debates, frontrunner and former Vice President Joe Biden championed this issue. And he’s plugging the concept to his donor base as if it were a done deal. The Washington Examiner reported Biden as saying:
“If I get elected president of the United States of America with your help, if that happens, guns, we have the capacity now in a James Bond-style to make sure no one can pull a trigger unless their DNA and fingerprint is on it,” Biden told roughly 180 donors in an Upper East Side penthouse Monday evening. “We have that capacity to do it now. You know it.”
Before Mr. Biden dials up Q and after he cures cancer, he might take note that Q is a fictional character in the movies and there are no smart guns on the market in 2019. Actually no, Joe, we don’t have that capacity. In 2016, President Obama penned an executive order calling for research and development of personalized gun technology. His right-hand man is running for president, and pro-gun control advocates are forging ahead with laws and proposed legislation. It would not be prudent or wise to disregard that another assault on the right to bear arms is underway and that the anti-gunners are itching to get control of your trigger finger with their latest gun grabbing scheme.
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To read more from Leesa K. Donner, visit her author page. At Liberty Nation, we love to hear from our readers. Comment and join the conversation!
