Cop bigs fret over Bam’s ‘smart’ pistol push
PRESIDENT OBAMA is shooting to increase the production of smart guns — but some law enforcement experts say he’s way off target.
More than three months after ordering federal agencies to step up research into the James Bondlike weapons, Obama is poised to release the results as early as Friday, according to Politico.
But the President’s anticipated show of support for smart guns is already drawing a fiery reaction from some policing experts.
They fear that Obama will force federal officers to use fire- arms that critics have considered unreliable.
“I don’t think that police officers, or anybody for that matter, should be guinea pigs for untested, deadly weapons,” said James Pasco, executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police.
The NYPD said it’s still too early to render an opinion on smart guns.
“We feel that the technology is not yet far enough developed and proven to the extent that we would be prepared to take an official position on it at this time,” a spokesman said.
Obama embraced the promise of smart guns as part of his executive actions to curb gun violence.
The technologically-enhanced firearms won’t fire unless activated by biometric readers — like a fingerprint scanner — or radio frequency identification (RFID) — typically a ring, bracelet or watch that needs to be within a certain range to activate the weapon.
Although smart guns have been in development for years, they’re still not available in the U.S.
“Millions of dollars have already been invested to support re- search into a broad range of concepts for improving gun safety. We must all do our part to advance this research," the President said in January.
“The federal government has a unique opportunity to do so, as it is the single largest purchaser of firearms in the country.”
The National Rifle Association has blocked any form of firearm regulation.
“Although NRA is not opposed to the development of new firearms technology, we do not believe the government should be picking winners and losers in the marketplace,” the group said in response to Obama’s executive actions.