Obama Orders Feds To Study Smart Gun Technology (cnet.com)

An anonymous reader writes: Today U.S. President Barack Obama rolled out a set of executive actions aimed at reducing gun violence. The most controversial of the provisions requires licenses for those who sell guns at gun shows and on the internet, and forces background checks on buyers. There are also a number of measures dedicated to making background checks more foolproof and universal. Less controversial but more on-topic for Slashdot is that Obama is requiring the departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security to investigate smart gun technology. This can include RFID chips, fingerprint scanners, and other bits of technology. Their goal will be to "explore potential ways to further its use and development to more broadly improve gun safety." The new gun measures include a proposal for a $500 million investment into providing care for people with serious mental illnesses.

Comments

Re: RF?

[Ksevio]

Unfortunately it's more likely for a gun to shoot someone in an accident or a kid getting a hold of it than for it to be fired "when needed". A good number of the times it's "needed" is for suicide too.

This is like the people that are afraid of seat belts because if they fall in a river they won't be able to get out of their car fast enough when the reality is they are more likely to be in a crash where the seat belt will save them.

Re: RF?

[Anonymous Coward]

I know man. Same with me and soup. When I'm hungry I want soup *fast* so I leave my stove burner on all the time, with an empty pot waiting for incoming soup. I refuse to see any correlation between this practice and the daily house fires that occur in my kitchen, because the second amendment protects my right to bear assault soup.

Re:Arm the first responders...

[Ichijo]

What you can do is give innocent, law abiding civilians the opportunity to defend themselves in case of an emergency, while they wait for the swat team to arrive.

I think that's a great idea. You fire at the shooter and attract his full undivided attention, and his bullets, while I run. I promise to come to your funeral.