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Silicon Valley should jump into the smart gun market
San Jose Mercury News ^ | 1/8/16 | Michelle Quinn

Posted on 01/08/2016 6:01:39 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom

...Ron Conway, the San Francisco angel investor, helped to pioneer the Smart Tech Challenges Foundation, which put up $1 million to fund a variety of ideas that advance gun lock technology. The goal had been to create the "iPhone of guns," Conway said...

...at least some of the more than 30,000 gun deaths each year would be avoided if there were smart guns. In theory, the technology would reduce gun suicides, gun deaths from accidents and deaths involving stolen guns. Smart guns might have particular appeal to law enforcement who have to worry about their weapons being used against them in tense situations.

Conway's foundation gave money to 15 entrepreneurs working on smart gun technology, including "smart ammunition." The highest amounts went to those closest to bringing the product to market. Some of the projects focus on firearms that can be fired only when they receive a radio signal from someone with a watch or ring. Other guns unlock when they identify the owner's fingerprint or grip. The foundation has given grants to entrepreneurs working on mechanical locks to better secure guns.

...why shouldn't Silicon Valley get involved? We live in a world where technology has personalized many products -- our phone, our cars, even our smoke detectors. If tech can make a gun safer -- yes, it sounds like an oxymoron -- and make some money, venture capitalists should create smart gun funds much like they do with funds focused on specific sectors such as clean tech. Companies already working on RFID, biometrics and global positioning systems (for finding lost or stolen guns) should jump in as well. The personalized gun is not a panacea that will end gun deaths. But it would be a better gun if it works only in the owner's hands.

(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events; US: California
KEYWORDS: banglist; gun; obama
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To: ProtectOurFreedom
Rest assured, the government will want a "back door" built into the technology that will enable them to disable the firearm remotely.

Given their history of incompetence, that technology will be stolen and for sale to the highest bidder not long after.

21 posted on 01/08/2016 6:28:47 PM PST by tacticalogic ("Oh bother!" said Pooh, as he chambered his last round.)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Again with the 30,000 gun deaths a year bullcrap.

Two-thirds of those are suicides. How will a smart gun stop a suicide?

Who even wants these over-priced pieces of crap with questionable technology?


22 posted on 01/08/2016 6:32:41 PM PST by july4thfreedomfoundation (Trump or Cruz in 2016. No others need apply.)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Ever had your cell phone go dead? Now your gun can be just as reliable.


23 posted on 01/08/2016 6:37:20 PM PST by Hugin ("First thing--get yourself a firearm!" Sheriff Ed Galt, Last Man Standing.)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

iGun. What could possibly go wrong?


24 posted on 01/08/2016 6:45:56 PM PST by PLMerite (The Revolution...will not be kind.)
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To: ThePatriotsFlag

Why? I won’t buy one.
__________________________
You would have to be crazy (and suicidal) to rely on a ‘smart’ gun. No bells and whistles for me.


25 posted on 01/08/2016 6:53:14 PM PST by iontheball
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To: doc1019

26 posted on 01/08/2016 6:58:20 PM PST by Rebelbase
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To: Rebelbase

Yep, just when you want to pull the trigger.


27 posted on 01/08/2016 7:03:16 PM PST by doc1019 (Cruz)
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To: Jackson Brown

Not so sure. Specifics are not available — but — it could appeal to lot of people, like those with a lot of kids.
___________________________________________________
No way would I leave a “smart” gun around to let my kids get their hands on it. Just when you think you can rely on technology, your kid turns out smart enough to bypass it. This is the story of a lock picker or a computer hacker or nerd. If a mind designed it, there is a mind that can unwind it. There are folks that just love the challenge.


28 posted on 01/08/2016 7:06:50 PM PST by iontheball
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

I like my guns dumb and obedient. Don’t have to worry about them getting any funny ideas on their own.


29 posted on 01/08/2016 7:10:08 PM PST by Ken H
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

For those who are baffled...

Of course people don’t want to buy them. Let me fill some of you in on the obvious. If corporations are willing to make “smart” weapons, state legislators will introduce bills to make the manufacturing of non-”smart” weapons illegal. Then, state legislators will introduce bills to outlaw possession non-”smart” weapons. It’s yet another way to try to take weapons away from all who are not degreed, licensed and approved.


30 posted on 01/08/2016 7:13:25 PM PST by familyop ("Welcome to Costco. I love you." --Costco greeter in "Idiocracy," example of today's politico.)
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To: july4thfreedomfoundation

“Dave, enter your secret suicide password.”
“Dave, are you sure you want to commit suicide?”
“Dave, have you thought about those that will be left behind and will have their lives ruined?”
“Dave, I cannot let you do that. Go have a beer and chill. Let’s talk tomorrow.”


31 posted on 01/08/2016 7:15:12 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not, no explanation is possible)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

The big call from the elite behind the political scenes is for weapons that rely on biometrics (fingerprints, retina scans, etc.) for use exclusively by those allowed to use them.


32 posted on 01/08/2016 7:16:06 PM PST by familyop ("Welcome to Costco. I love you." --Costco greeter in "Idiocracy," example of today's politico.)
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To: Hugin

The pw reader on my iPhone suddenly stopped working yesterday morning. None of my four scanned fingers would unlock it.

Then the fingerprint reader at the gym didn’t work. The lady at the counter had some goo that makes fingerprint more readable and that worked.

I guess each gun would have to ship with a jar of special fingerprint enhancement goo.


33 posted on 01/08/2016 7:16:44 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (For those who understand, no explanation is needed. For those who do not, no explanation is possible)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom



34 posted on 01/08/2016 7:18:29 PM PST by familyop ("Welcome to Costco. I love you." --Costco greeter in "Idiocracy," example of today's politico.)
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To: doc1019

When seconds count, technical support is minutes away.


35 posted on 01/08/2016 7:21:18 PM PST by Rebelbase
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To: ProtectOurFreedom
My Homemade 40W LASER SHOTGUN!!!!!
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/3297960/posts


36 posted on 01/08/2016 7:24:03 PM PST by familyop ("Welcome to Costco. I love you." --Costco greeter in "Idiocracy," example of today's politico.)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Remington made a microprocessor controlled rifle years go. Lock time was super fast, but you still depended on batteries.

I believe it was Peter Hathaway Capstick who said the most terrifying sound in the world is when the rifle goes “click” when you need it to go “Bang!”


37 posted on 01/08/2016 7:25:17 PM PST by Ruy Dias de Bivar
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To: Rebelbase

And only if you understand Punjabi (love your play on a popular theme).


38 posted on 01/08/2016 7:28:39 PM PST by doc1019 (Cruz)
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To: doc1019

‘’So sorry sir, we no longer support that version of smart gun. We recommend you upgrade to the newest release, thank-you for calling’’


39 posted on 01/08/2016 7:46:44 PM PST by Rebelbase
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Let the Silicon Valley guys have the Experimental Electronic Activated guns, I’ll keep my old steel ones.


40 posted on 01/08/2016 8:04:31 PM PST by ImJustAnotherOkie
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