SMART GUNS

technology.

e rearms industry has been closely watching the development of smart guns. Mark Oliva, a spokesperson for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, said the new technology does have some people concerned.

“We’ve never been opposed to authorized user technology, or smart guns. What we oppose are mandates on that technology,” Oliva said.

Some Second Amendment advocates are afraid this technology points, to 47% from 31% last year. e biggest divisions around e ec- might one day be mandatory for all guns. ere’s no evidence of that yet, though it has been a focus within some state legislatures. New Jersey passed a law requiring stores to carry smart guns once they become available, but Bio re CEO Kai Kloepfer has said he wouldn’t submit the gun for the state’s review – specically to avoid triggering the law. Overall, the stakes are high for this smart gun from Bio re—and for all smart guns to come. Steve Wolf, a rearms expert in Boulder, is a plainti ’s expert witness in a case against Alec Baldwin, after the actor was involved in an accidental rearm-involved death on the set of the lm Rust. Wolf believes Bio re is tive policy solutions were between Republicans and Democrats in the state, with Independents falling squarely between the parties for every proposed solution. e largest di erences between what the parties viewed as e ective solutions were requiring developers to build low-income housing — 86% of Democrats thought this would be an e ective solution, while only 49% of Republicans agreed — and increasing government investments in programs that prevent people from becoming homeless — 87% of Democrats believed in its e ectiveness, while 46% of Republicans agreed. e takeaway from this year’s data, Montoya said, was that it hasn’t taking a risk. e Bio re smart gun doesn’t just prevent unauthorized users inside of the home from using the gun—it also prevents use by strangers. Hundreds of thousands of guns are stolen each year in the United States, and many are used in violent crimes. Wolf said the smart gun might put a dent in that.

Almost every household with an income below $150,000 was worried about their children being able to a ord a home in Colorado.

Montoya wants the information gleaned from these polls to help inform policymakers’ priorities. He said the foundation’s primary audience is local lawmakers and legislators. When presented with a number of policy solutions, respondents thought that the most e ective ways to mitigate housing cost challenges are to reduce property taxes for homeowners with low or xed incomes, and to ensure that landlords cannot raise rents on tenants too quickly.

“If even one or two cases get out where it’s found that someone was unable to protect themselves because the gun didn’t recognize them... I think that’s going to kill the movement for a long time,” Wolf said.

“It would diminish the ability of criminals to use the gun,” Wolf said.

For his part, Wolf hopes Bio re changed much since last year. Montoya believes that Coloradans’ major concerns “skyrocketed” around COVID, and have continued to stay high ever since.

“ e majority of these worries have increased since 2020, but there hasn’t been much of a decline in any of them. ere is really just a plateau,” he said. “And a majority of folks are feeling concerned.” is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media. succeeds.

“Everyone wants to see gun safety improved,” Wolf said. “And if this is a step that gets us closer to that, more power to them.” is KUNC story via e Associated Press’ Storyshare, of which Colorado Community Media is a member.

Bio re isn’t having any trouble selling out right now, even though the rst guns won’t ship until the end of the year. But whether the technology is here to stay is still anyone’s guess. Firearms history is littered with technology that never caught on—but that history is also lled with innovations that changed the world.