(November 01, 2015)
Every time there's a massacre at a school, like the recent one in Oregon, it reignites the debate for more gun control -- not only because of the mass shootings, but because of the hundreds of incidents of gun violence every day on our streets and in our homes. One idea that keeps coming up is smart guns. These are firearms that only work when they're fired by their owner. It seems that "gee whiz" technology is seeping into every corner of our lives. Why not guns? *
CBS had a "feature" about Smart Guns, which did not convince me that they are the "wave of the future"/
Why am I not convinced?
I have a Smart Phone. It turns itself off and on willy-nilly, and I have no idea why. So I have to wait a few minutes for it to sort itself out.
Which might not ever happen; too often, I have to turn it off and wait "a while", whether I would prefer to or not.
That's marginal in a cell phone; that's unacceptable in a defensive weapon.
If I have the need to use my firearm, I am not willing to 'wait a minute' for it to sort itself out.
Whether in a competitive environment (when two seconds is an eternity) or in a home defense situation (when two seconds is LITERALLY the difference between a few more years of life, or an eternity without it) ... firearm reliability is always ALWAYS the most important characteristic of a gun I can bet my life on. Whether it's appropriate to shoot? Whether the target needs to be engaged?
That determination is MY job; If I make a mistake, at least I know I won't die waiting for the chip to warm up!
For me, Gun Control means that I'm in total control of my firearms. It doesn't mean that I willingly relinquish my ability to use my defensive (or hunting, or competitive) firearm when, where and how I require.
* It seems that "gee whiz" technology is seeping into every corner of our lives. Why not guns?
Cell phones are just toys; guns are weapons. And whenever we relinquish control of our weapons to 'technology', we put our lives on the line.
I'm not willing to abrogate my life to (an reliable) computer chip.
Are you?
(For More Information Press 1. If that doesn't work, Press 2. If that doesn't pfffsszzzzzzz ....)
2 comments:
We have too many people in the media and government that have too much time on their hands and nothing better to worry about than whether our guns are "smart" or not.
Just Call Me Anon
If "smart"guns are so important for public safety and reducing wrongful deaths by people overpowering someone else and using his or her gun, why aren't the first people proposed to beta test these devices police? If anyone, they are more likely to be in close proximity to persons willing to and interested in taking his gun from him and using on him.
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