Technology and guns

I would encourage the reading of this latest opus by Dan Rodericks of the Baltimore Sun. Roderick’s comments become even more significant in light of the latest news of a 9 year old girl shooting her instructor with an Uzi.

Rodericks reports that guns are becoming more accurate, deadly, and safer. Gun enthusiasts seem enamored of “computerized, laser-based rifle scopes that turn amateurs into master snipers at 1,200 yards.”

There is apparently less enthusiasm for technology that prevents a gun from being used by anyone other than its rightful owner.

Rodericks tells the story of Andy Raymond, a gun store owner in Rockville, Md., who decided to sell a smart gun designed to function only when used by its owner. It is estimated such guns could prevent 37 percent of unintended gun deaths. Raymond changed his mind after a series of protests and death threats.

Raymond also noted, however, that such a response from gun advocates is hypocritical. Their argument is that no gun should be banned. Yet they now seek to ban any gun that would make us safer.

Such a story is really hard to understand. It sure does make it difficult to believe that the most vociferous proponents of Second Amendment gun rights have any genuine interest in having a reasonable discussion of protecting the legitimate rights of gun owners as well as protecting the safety of all of us.