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New Jersey becomes first state to require 'smart guns'
New Jersey Online ^ | 12/23/02 1:14 PM | PETER SAHARKO

Posted on 12/23/2002 10:56:36 AM PST by bvw

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey has become the first state in nation to enact a law requiring all new handguns sold to have a mechanism that allows only their owners to fire them.

Gov. James E. McGreevey signed a bill Monday requiring "smart gun" technology, but the requirement will not go into effect immediately because the technology is still under development and it could be years before it becomes a reality.

"This is common sense legislation. There are safety regulations on cars, on toys. It's clearly time we have safety regulations on handguns," McGreevey said at Monday's signing ceremony.

The New Jersey Institute of Technology is developing a smart gun prototype that would use sensors on the pistol grip to identify a user.

The owner would have his grip programmed at a gun shop or police range by practice-firing the weapon. A microchip in the weapon would remember the grip and determine in an instant whether the authorized user was holding the weapon. If not, the gun would not fire.

Under the New Jersey law, the technology will be required in all new handguns sold three years after the state attorney general determines a smart gun prototype is safe and commercially available.

Supporters say the law will help prevent accidental gun deaths and suicides.

But opponents argued that it makes little sense to legislate about a technology that does not yet exist and have raised questions about its reliability.

"No technology is foolproof," said Nancy Ross, spokeswoman for the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs. "Anyone who has a computer knows how many times it crashes."


TOPICS: Breaking News; Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: New Jersey
KEYWORDS: banglist; gunsbanning
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To: DeoVindici
Gut feeling is that gun manufacturers will just write off New Jersey instead

Particularly stop selling to all state and local agencies in NJ, and prohibit importation of any weapon into the state. Talk about squealing like a puppy with its tail in the washing machine motor!! The cops themselves will lynch the legislature!!!

Boonie Rat

MACV SOCOM, PhuBai/Hue '65-'66

41 posted on 12/23/2002 11:49:19 AM PST by Boonie Rat
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To: Spiritus Gladius
So ... if this wiz-bang technology fails we can sue the The New Jersey Instititute of Technology and the State of New Jersey?

No, but your widow and/or surviving children can.

Sorry Spiritus, but they covered their own asses. Check out the last section in the bill:

No action or inaction by a public entity or public employee in implementing the provisions of P.L. ____, c. ____ (C. ____) (now pending before the Legislature as this bill), including but not limited to the promulgating, amending or supplementing of a list of personalized handguns that may be sold in this State, shall constitute a representation, warranty or guarantee by any public entity or employee with regard to the safety, use or any other aspect or attribute of a personalized handgun.

No action to recover damages shall arise or shall be brought against any public entity or public employee for any action or inaction related to or in connection with the implementation of any aspect of P.L. ____, c. ____ (C. ____) (now pending before the Legislature as this bill).

42 posted on 12/23/2002 11:49:49 AM PST by grady
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To: savedbygrace
I did a brief Google search and found gun lock stuff, but I seem to recall a provision which called for as yet uninvented technologies by the year 200?. At the time it struck me as a devilishly clever anti-gun ploy.
43 posted on 12/23/2002 11:52:51 AM PST by gundog
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To: pabianice
Please excuse a dumb question, but how do you aim that thing? I don't see any sights. In the future will we all shoot from the hip, or is it smart enough to know what you *intended* to aim at and adjust itself accordingly?
44 posted on 12/23/2002 11:52:55 AM PST by Spiritus Gladius
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To: grady
Check out the last section in the bill:

Wow. That's a *great* CYA provision! So if they can't be sued for any action or inaction related to this bill, and the Supreme Court has already established that police can't be sued for failing to prevent crime...

Hot dang! Open season on New Jerseyites, and no bag limit!

45 posted on 12/23/2002 11:58:14 AM PST by Spiritus Gladius
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To: coloradan
With respect to suicides that occur from when someone tries to use another person's gun, the fact that the gun doesn't go off won't stop the suicide - it will only stop the gun suicide. Someone who seriously intends to die will still find a way to do so.

Not necessarily.

46 posted on 12/23/2002 12:00:06 PM PST by stands2reason
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To: bvw
Ok, so when are NJ voters going to require "smart politicians"?
47 posted on 12/23/2002 12:00:28 PM PST by taxcontrol
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To: Boonie Rat
NEW JERSEY=CALIFORNIA EAST
48 posted on 12/23/2002 12:00:38 PM PST by bybybill
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To: hobbes1
ROTFLMAO!!!

Your post was my first thought on seeing the header.

49 posted on 12/23/2002 12:01:24 PM PST by Pylot
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To: dirtboy
[McGreevey] "This is common sense legislation. The Dems are the party who: Have trouble with the word "is" Have trouble defining sex Have trouble with the concept of 53 days Believe you can consume what you haven't produced In other words, they talk about common sense when they have none whatsoever...

HEY, to them it's a victory! As stupid as it is, it gives them a political agenda! I don't wish them well in their endeavors.

50 posted on 12/23/2002 12:05:26 PM PST by EGPWS
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To: bvw
More useless laws.
51 posted on 12/23/2002 12:11:00 PM PST by The Real Deal
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To: Mr. K
THIS IS A CUNNING WAY OF BANNING *ALL* *OTHER* GUNS!!!!!!!!

I just caught your post! You would make a very talented carpenter for I think you hit the nail, with perfection, on the head! I can see where this idiotic bill could lead.

52 posted on 12/23/2002 12:12:25 PM PST by EGPWS
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To: cryptical
Next thing you know, they'll say that the mod only weighs six pounds, and the car battery that it uses for power shouldn't be an impediment to any "legitimate" user.

That reminds me of Al Bundy's "Shoe Lights". They were as practical as this nonsesical law.

What's New Jersey going to do about the millions of "old tech" guns already on the street?

53 posted on 12/23/2002 12:13:22 PM PST by hattend
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To: Exit148
You should try CA, and Gay Davis.
54 posted on 12/23/2002 12:14:05 PM PST by The Real Deal
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To: Fred Mertz
Agreed.

safety regulations
My guns have safety regulations. It's what's between my ears.

55 posted on 12/23/2002 12:15:08 PM PST by Dan from Michigan
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To: balrog666
Isn't that what they did with the "V-chip"?

I could be wrong but I think the V-Chip actually exists and are being put in TV's

Now if anyone knows how to use it is another matter

56 posted on 12/23/2002 12:17:13 PM PST by Mo1
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To: coloradan
More idiocy from NJ.

Now that we have all the PRESSING business taken care of....... What do we do now?
57 posted on 12/23/2002 12:17:44 PM PST by evaporation-plus
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To: Mo1
I could be wrong but I think the V-Chip actually exists and are being put in TV's Now if anyone knows how to use it is another matter

When oh when does it end. He!!, my babster..a husky, has a chip in his head which I had to go and have programmed with my name and address as to track him in case he gets loose. I didn't request it but the options when I purchased him were "have the chip installed and programmed on purchase or don't take him and the pup gets the needle"

58 posted on 12/23/2002 12:30:16 PM PST by EGPWS
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To: EGPWS
I'd cut it out - most of these are barely sub-dermal.
59 posted on 12/23/2002 12:33:37 PM PST by IMHO
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To: EGPWS
"have the chip installed and programmed on purchase or don't take him and the pup gets the needle"

are you serious???

If they want to have these pets adopted .. that is not a good way of doing it .. these chips are a big turn off to most people

60 posted on 12/23/2002 12:34:35 PM PST by Mo1
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