New Jersey becomes first state to require 'smart guns'

New Jersey Online ^ | 12/23/02 1:14 PM | PETER SAHARKO

[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."

[The Real Deal]

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.

I have a farely new TV. I wonder if I am the proud owner of a "V-chip".

[EGPWS]

I'd cut it out - most of these are barely sub-dermal.

Well, IMHO, IMHO I concider myself very saavy with the technical and do a lot of delicate electronic maintenance, BUT..to risk damaging his beautiful coat let alone his health,by playing surgeon, me thinks I'll pass on your recommendation! But thanks for the input anyway.

[Long Cut]

So we can presume that, after all this wonderful technology is implemented, that these "smart" guns will be freely available to all New Jerseyites, and their legislature will pass CCW laws forthwith, right? Right?

Oh, and of course their local cops will be immediately armed with them as well, right? RIGHT?

If I currently lived in Jersey, I would right now be buying weapons as fast as my paycheck would allow.

[boris]

Predictions:

» "Old fashioned" dumb guns will suddenly become really valuable.
» A cottage industry will spring up devoted to removing the "smart" features.
» This will be made illegal, creating an entire new criminal class.
» Wrongful death suits--against the manufacturer if a "smart gun" malfunctions in self-defense. Say the batteries run down; they'll sue the Energizer Bunny.

--Boris

[boris]

"If you're a crimminal, and you want to get rich quick, may I suggest a New Jersey vacation?"

Crimminnal, by crikey!

Subliminal criminal?

[EGPWS]

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

I agree. It was a turn off for me also BUT even with the chip I got myself one he!! of a companion! If I recall properly it was "Canine Rescue" and the chip was already imbedded. I just had to have it programmed to reference me and my address.

I agree that with these publicly funded organizations they should be doing everything in their power to achieve their stated goals and in this case I assume it would be to save a dogs life and give him a good home, but in doing what they did in installing the chip I can see where a dog's life could be jeopordized.

[robertpaulsen]

From the movie Westworld:

Peter: Hey, John... How do I know I'm not going to kill another guest with this thing?
John: Try it. Shoot me. Go on, shoot. Shoot! The gun has a sensing device. It won't fire at anything with a high body temperature. Only something cold, like a machine.
Peter: They thought of everything.

[robertpaulsen]

Go here for the complete story. It seems that our friends at New Jersey Online left out a little tidbit:

"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. Weapons used by law enforcement officers would be exempt until a commission determines whether the requirement should apply to them."

[Madame Dufarge]

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

So they admit it makes the gun inoperable.

[John Jorsett]

I think it should be 3 years after the police are required to use them. If it isn't safe or reliable for cops, it isn't for the public either.

[John Jorsett]

We in NJ have to live with this guy every day!!! {{{{sigh}}}}

Be grateful you don't have Governor Davis of California. He wins the prize. However, McGreevey has scooped him with this dumb law, so no doubt Davis will be signing something even more nuts soon. Probably a law requiring bullets that don't wound the innocent.

[Gritty]

Just think. New Jersey could have had Schundler instead of McGreedy. But, no-o-o-o-o....

How about requiring NJ voters have their voting cards validated and programmed at the local Elections Office before they get to cast a vote next time? They might get better results and fewer mass political suicides!

[nickcarraway]

Unfortunately, I can. They'd like to keep the guns smart and the people dumb.

[Oztrich Boy]

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.

"Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even when there is no river." --Nikita Khrushcev

[jiggyboy]

An absolute technological nightmare. Uncountable ways that it can fail, and both the "shoots when it shouldn't" and the "doesn't shoot when it should" cases certainly, immediately, and almost directly lead to the death of the owner.

[sneakypete]

It's a damn shame NJ can't manage to require smart voters and smart judges.

[StarfireIV]

It very well may be that in New Jersey, the guns may in fact be getting smarter than the politicians.

[Dan Day]

Along with all the other things very wrong with this idea, consider this scenario: You find yourself confronted by a gun-wielding attacker, and out of desperation (what else have you got to lose) you make a grab for his gun and manage to wrestle it away from him.

Normally, you'd now have the upper hand. But with a "smart gun", the criminal would just laugh at you, and attack you to wrestle his gun back from you in complete safety, secure in the knowledge that you can't use it against him.

[teeman8r]

your are correct, glendeafening signed the trigger lock law and then couldn't unlock it, but fortunately there was a thirteen yearold in the crowd who could...

the smart gun legislation waits in limbo until it is invented...

[teeman8r]

in the future, hostile targets will be identified by infrared sensors and tracking software, aiming is a thing of the past and point and click and vaporize technology is just around the corner at microsoft...