Just Shoot Me (Or Maybe Not)

This link takes you to a news release from IMET Corporation based in nearby Newtown, Pa., which, as noted in the release, is developing “smart gun” technology. As nearly as I can figure out from skimming through their information, their product works in this manner; the owner of the gun grips and readies it, and the “smart lock” allows the gun to function if the fingerprints match that of the owner.

There’s a lot more to it than that, apparently, but it is definitely a leap forward. The owner of the company said that, if Officer Brian Gregg had this technology in his gun, the suspect he held in custody a couple of weeks ago at nearby St. Mary’s Hospital would not have been able to disarm him and kill him with his own weapon (any murder, particularly that of a police officer, is a tragedy, but Officer’s Gregg’s death was particularly wrenching to the community).

OK, now suppose this technology is implemented on most handguns that are sold in this country one day, but unfortunately, IMET Corporation goes out of business (though I definitely don’t wish that on them). You own a handgun in your home that you have registered and you are a law-abiding citizen who practices gun safety. You are sleeping one night and someone breaks into your home. You have accidentally left your gun in an area where it is visible (a big “if,” I know). The intruder sees the gun, picks it up and robs you at gunpoint. There is a scuffle, the IMET technology fails, and the intruder shoots you. You die (yes, I know I’m being fatalistic, but are you going to tell me this could never happen?).

As the investigation proceeds, it turns out that the gun maker did not properly integrate the “smart” technology into the weapon you owned somehow (there was some mechanical incompatibility that was not properly tested and the public wasn’t notified). Can you sue the gun maker over it?

No, and here is the reason why (no other product in this country has this kind of liability protection, and this is one of the most dangerous products you can own). There’s no sense in even trying to contact Dubya and get him to veto this (my apologies to the great people at The Brady Campaign), because he can’t wait to scribble on the dotted line.

These are dark days in many ways, and my sincerest hope is that we all remain safe and vigilant to get through them, teach our kids about them, and take all precautions to make sure that we NEVER have to endure them again.