In light of recent events, and previous events, and events that are sure to happen in the near future, gun control has been a pretty big topic. I suppose this is the politically correct approach, but it is lacking something major. It is void of anything that can be used as an effective way to stop gun crimes from happening. Why is this? Quite possibly, this is because, by definition, criminals do not obey the laws. It has long been my opinion that stricter gun laws would only serve to handicap law abiding citizens. However, it stands to reason that the Constitution was not written with assault rifles in mind.
Another concept that is not new but has recently resurfaced is that of smart-gun technology. A student by the name of Kai Kloepfer lived in Boulder, Colorado at the time that James Holmes entered a theater in Aurora, Colorado and opened fire during a showing of “The Dark Knight Rises.” 12 people were killed and 70 others were injured. Kloepfer initially set out to find a way to prevent mass shootings. However, during his research, he found out that more people are killed annually by accidental shootings than mass shootings. He decided to focus on those types of casualties instead.
This resulted in the idea for a technology that would lock or disable the gun unless the owner enabled it with their fingerprint. Other fingerprints can be programmed into the system if others are authorized to use the gun. Fingerprints are saved and stored with military-grade encryption. Obviously, this would not prevent mass shootings or crimes perpetrated by the owner of the gun, but it would certainly cut down on the stories we all hate to hear about a child who grabs their dad’s gun and accidentally shoots a sibling or the kid who steals his dad’s gun and uses it to commit suicide. Tom Lynch a veteran of the Army is developing a similar technology with a touchpad scanner that would recognize a fingerprint and can be added to an existing gun, making it a smart gun.
It is definitely an interesting concept and certainly worth the research and development that would go into making this technology readily available for all gun owners. Unfortunately, there is one glaring issue that I see with smart gun technology. My concern goes back to the main reason we are given the right to bear arms in the first place. We were awarded the right in order to be able to defend ourselves, our families, and our homes. These articles concerning smart gun technology do not mention any delay that comes with requiring the firearm to recognize the owner’s fingerprint. A moment of hesitation during a home invasion could be the difference between life and death. Additionally, fingerprint encryption does not always recognize the fingerprint on the first attempt.
In the end, this is a potential solution to some of the problems resulting from a circumstance in which a firearm makes its way into the wrong hands. While I agree with the idea of continuing to conduct research and develop this type of technology, it is not the be-all and end-all solution. I do not think there is a be-all and end-all solution at this time. I do believe Americans can take steps towards a solution, however. Americans can be more vigilant about anything strange that they see or hear. Parents that own guns can teach their kids the correct way to responsibly handle a firearm. This should begin as soon as the child reaches the age at which they are strong enough to fire a weapon. Finally, authorities should spend less time and resources looking into gun control, and focus on better mental health programs instead. These may not result in permanent solutions, but I believe we would be taking large strides in the right direction.
