Gun rights advocate Alan Gottlieb will be attending a Seattle symposium on so-called “smart gun” technology in late January.
By Dave Workman
Senior Editor
The first-of-its-kind international symposium on so-called “smart guns” is scheduled Jan. 28 in downtown Seattle, Wash., with sponsorship from Washington Technology Industry Association (WTIA) and Washington Ceasefire, but there will also be representation from two leading gun rights organizations, and some firearms technology experts.
Representatives from the Bellevue-based Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms and the Second Amendment Foundation will attend, TGM confirmed.
Ceasefire President Ralph Fascitelli told TGM via e-mail that the symposium organizers are “committed” to making sure pro-gun representatives have a voice.
Among those attending are Ernst Mauch, the German firearms engineer and CEO of Armatix, the company that developed the Armatix iP1 pistol, which was at the center of a bristling controversy early in 2014. In addition, New Jersey State Sen. Loretta Weinberg, who sponsored “smart gun” legislation in the Garden State, will also attend, according to a WTIA/Ceasefire press release. Also scheduled are Robert McNamara, CEO of TriggerSmart in Ireland, and Omer Kiyani, CEO of Sentinl in Detroit, WTIA said.
“Technology at its core is all about problem solving,” said Michael Schutzler CEO of the Washington Technology Industry Association, in a press release, “so we as a tech industry see making guns safer for everyone, especially families and law enforcement, as a way we can help transform our communities. In partnership with Washington Ceasefire during this symposium we look forward to exploring the state of smart guns today and providing an open forum to weigh in on the pros and cons of this technology.”
Efforts to impose “personalized handgun” technology on New Jersey gun owners hit a snag in early December when the state Attorney General issued a report that said the iP1’s design “does not satisfy the statutory definition (of a smart gun) because, as a matter of design, the pistol may be fired by a person who is not an authorized or recognized user. That is, as long as the pistol is situated within 10 inches of the enabling wristwatch, it may be fired by anyone – the authorized user or any other person who is able to pull the trigger.
The report also noted, “While the system does incorporate a PIN code or a timer to disable the handgun when the weapon is enabled, there is nothing in the technology which automatically limits its operational use so that it may only be fired by an authorized or recognized user (so long as the pistol is within a 10-inch proximity to the wristwatch component).”
At that time, Scott Bach, executive director of the Association of New Jersey Rifle and Pistol Clubs (ANJRPC) observed, “New Jersey’s smart-gun law is as dumb as it gets. It forces you to use an unproven technology to defend your life, and then exempts the state from liability when the gun goes ‘click’ instead of ‘bang’.”
Ceasefire President Ralph Fascitelli says the symposium is determined to include representation from pro-gun groups.
Earlier in 2014 at the height of the “smart gun” controversy, the National Rifle Association was lambasted for standing in the way of the technology, but that’s not what the organization actually did. The NRA issued a policy statement, quoted by Constitution Daily at the time, that explained, “NRA does not oppose new technological developments in firearms; however, we are opposed to government mandates that require the use of expensive, unreliable features, such as grips that would read your fingerprints before the gun will fire.
“And NRA recognizes that the ‘smart guns’ issue has the potential to mesh with the anti-gunner’s agenda,” the statement added, “opening the door to a ban on all guns that do not possess the government-required technology.”
The National Shooting Sports Foundation said in November 2013 that it “does not oppose the development of owner authorized technology for firearms and, should such products come to market, individuals should be able to decide for themselves whether they want to purchase them.”
“However,” noted Larry G. Keane, senior vice president and general counsel, “we do oppose legislative mandates that would require manufacturers to produce only such firearms.”
Observed ANJRPC’s Bach in reaction to the New Jersey report, “If it’s such a great idea, then law enforcement shouldn’t be exempt, and the free market should be able to determine its viability.” He called the attorney general’s finding “welcome.”
