Smart Weapons

The device attaches to the trigger of a handgun, which can then only be unlocked by biometric authentication, preventing any unauthorized user from firing the weapon. Drawing on breakthroughs in mobile technology, the trigger is released by similar fingerprint sensors to those used in Apple's iPhone 5S. Those sensors are approved by the FBI, and widely found in security scanners. "The key is reliability," says Kiyani. "The sensor has proved itself in different sectors over the past few years and the market is aware of its capability." The gun is enabled in under a second from first contact, and engineers are chipping away to further reduce the time. Eventually, it is hoped the lock will be integrated and the release will be instant. I guess the question now is whether it will make an impact on the safety of guns. Also, what if the government makes laws requiring all civilian-owned firearms to have this device attached, and it is a serious felony to own or purchase one without it, as well as removing it? Just something to think about.