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Exactly how many law enforcement agencies are going to adopt smart gun technology? I gauruntee you, zero. Why? Because cops know that the technology is dangerous and can render a gun useless in an emergency, self defense situation. Sweaty palms and a jittery hand will give prints rejected by nearly every fingerprint biometric device out there.

IIRC, the folks a NJIT are working on a technology that senses the supposedly unique grip of each persons hand. It doesn't recognize fingerprints.

That's problematic from a few examples:
1. It assumes very little variation holding the weapon each time it's fired.
2. It assumes that there's no difference from being at the range and being in a self-defense situation when the adrenaline is flowing.
3. In the latter situation, what happen's when a right handed person has to shoot left handed or the reverse.
4. Does the impression of the grip change when firing a handgun single handed versus supported single hand?
5. What if someone's hand is bandaged or wearing gloves?

IIRC, I posted the story not long ago. I'll try to find it.

Well ah, I thought I posted one. I hope this will do.

http://www.news12.com/NJ/topstories/article?id=88980

NJIT members help develop new electronic gun safety device

(08/31/03) NEWARK - Guns could be safer thanks to new "smart gun" technology developed in New Jersey. Members of the Australian gun manufacturer Metal Storm and the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) have teamed up to make an electronic gun safety device.

The safety system is based on they way someone squeezes the gun while pulling the trigger. By putting pressure measurement devices on the grip of the gun, the mechanism is able to determine whether it is a grip pattern that was stored in, an authorized user or an intruder. It is in that process, during the moment of trigger pull, where the mechanism enables or disables the gun from firing.

NJIT officials say the biometric grip recognition system is potentially compatible with a conventional mechanical firearm. The new guns should be available in two to three years.

Many folks think the new technology is a good idea. Those against the "smart gun" technology say it does nothing to impact the 192 million firearms already in U.S. circulation.