Blog
"Smart Guns"
[Reprinted from NSSF Newsletter]
Much Ado about Nearly Nothing in the End: The Obama Administration’s Smart Gun Saga
November 23, 2016 By Steve Sanetti
A completely predictable thing happened on the way to the Obama administration’s political promise from January that the federal government would put its considerable weight behind the development of authorized-user technology — more often called “Smart Guns.” In fact, we predicted it.
With the release just a few days ago of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Report, Baseline Specifications for Law Enforcement Service Pistols with Security Technology, we were reminded of what we said 11 months ago, pointing to the White House’s own words that eventual acquisition of firearms with this technology “would be consistent with operational needs.”
Indeed, operational needs as described in the NIJ baseline specifications seem to have ruled out for law enforcement several of the technologies so often cited in the media, including the fingerprint technology endorsed by President Obama with the rhetorical question “If we can set it up so you can’t unlock your phone unless you’ve got the right fingerprint, why can’t we do the same for our guns?”
The “working group of firearms experts in firearms technology” from the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security specified in their report that “The (firearm’s) security device shall not inhibit the operator from firing in either hand, one-handed or two-handed, with our without gloves, in any orientation” (Sec. 4.18.4).
Similarly, the report instructs, “The security device shall not increase the time required by the operator to grasp, draw from a holster, and fire the pistol as a pistol of the same design that is not equipped with the security device.” This specification would seem to rule out having to enter any numeric codes or even to have to wait for an external signaling device to synch up with the firearm unlocking mechanism” (Sec. 4.18.6).
Further, we read, “The security device shall not emit audible sounds or visible signals” (Sec. 4.18.7). We have seen video of handguns equipped with lights to indicate readiness to fire. You can count these designs out for law enforcement use, apparently.
Lastly, and most troubling we read, “If the security device malfunctions, it shall default to a state to allow the pistol to fire” Sec. 4.18.3). How is that so? We have heard that one of the proponents’ concerns was a law enforcement officer’s gun being taken from him. If the device failed in this way, then the officer’s life is at risk. If it defaults to non-firing, of course, an officer would be unable to defend himself/herself or others. It sounds like a technological conundrum.
We point out all this not to say, “We told you so,” although we did. We do so because unlike the early 2016 pronouncements from the White House that were picked up uncritically and trumpeted by the mainstream media, the release of this promised report has yielded no coverage – except for the endemic media that covers our industry. Then, we fielded many media calls some resulting in coverage, some not, and several delivered with a reporter lecturing regarding a position that the firearms industry does not hold.* To date, we have received exactly ZERO media calls regarding this report. Not surprisingly, we have not seen a headline “Government firearms experts throw cold water on White House ‘smart gun’ hopes.”
We have seen one short and decidedly vague story, so far, under the headline, “Obama administration’s new specifications for smart guns only voluntary plan” appearing in the vehemently gun control favoring New York Daily News. It quotes a Justice Department spokesman as saying, “The specs give ‘clear guidance’ to manufacturers.” On that, we can agree. We read that guidance and will characterize it as indicating that no law enforcement agency is likely to be ordering any “service pistols with security technology” anytime soon.
*For the record, the firearms industry does not oppose the development or marketing of authorized user technology equipped firearms. We do oppose government mandates requiring this technology in the marketplace. The industry also wants law enforcement and military experts to make acquisition decisions, not their political bosses on any level. As firearms experts, we also reserve the right to point out problems with the theory and design of “smart gun” technology and as incorporated in the examples we have seen to date. There are several tried and true means of safeguarding firearms, such as securing them in safes and lockboxes or with the use of cable locks such as that provided by the industry with the purchase of new firearms or through NSSF’s Project ChildSafe program.
/NSSF
Science
The hocus-pocus of scale
Whenever a group of military veterans get together, invariably some iteration of the old 'war-story' will come up about the “midnight acquisition” specialist that every military outfit seemed to have somewhere in the lower ranks; he was always the guy with the buddy who worked at the supply depot.
For example, there once was a platoon that ran out of toilet paper, and couldn’t seem to get their supply replenished through normal channels. The platoon "acquisition specialist" was sent on a surreptitious mission to get a couple of cases of toilet paper from the supply depot. The guy’s buddy at the depot took his friend aside and whispered “you’ll have to take a whole pallet, because if I give you just two cases, they’ll notice it.”
Which brings us to the point… In the field of traditional science, if a “scientist" phonies up some scientific data, it will probably be discovered during the peer review process. However, if the “science” itself is fraudulent, then phony data can very easily go unnoticed.
Why Fake Data When You Can Fake A Scientist?
Hoss Cartwright, a former editor of the International Journal of Agricultural Innovations and Research, had a good excuse for missing the 5th World Congress on Virology last year: He doesn’t exist. Burkhard Morgenstern, a professor of bioinformatics at the University of Gottingen, dreamt him up, and built a nice little scientific career for him. He wrote Cartwright a Curriculum Vitae, describing his doctorate in Studies of Dunnowhat, his rigorous postdoctoral work at Some Shitty Place in the Middle of Nowhere, and his experience as Senior Cattle Manager at the Ponderosa Institute for Bovine Research. Cartwright never published a single research paper, but he was appointed to the editorial boards of five journals. Apparently, no one involved in the application processes remembered the television show Bonanza, or the giant but amiable cowboy named “Hoss” who was played by actor Dan Blocker. Despite Cartwright’s questionable credentials, he was invited to speak at several meetings such as the 5th World Congress on Virology—typically a mark of recognition as an expert.
Caveat doctrina!
/fl
BATFE Form 4473
New Form 4473
ATF Form 4473, Firearms Transaction Record (Form 4473) has been revised. This letter highlights the significant changes to the form.
All Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) must begin using this form on January 16, 2017. After that date, all previous editions of the Form 4473 will be obsolete.
/NSSF/ATF
2016 Presidential Election
Democratic Party — The Autopsy
This has been a very revealing election cycle!
Postmodernist's seem to be in a state of shock — awestruck that the words "truth" and "fact" are not synonymous; "you just can't trust "data" anymore!"
Considering what the "entertainment industry" has been serving up as "reality" for the last decade or so will help to give you some insight into the postmodernist's psyche. For a more detailed analysis, Albert Mohler's Daily Briefing today is a good place to start.
/fl
Civil Rights
Removing the infringement from The Right to Keep and Bear Arms
When Hillary Clinton, during her campaign, publicly declared herself to be the enemy of an American institution, that is the National Rifle Association, it was apparent that she believed that she could do without 5 million plus votes. She obviously hadn't consulted with, or learned any lessons from her hubby Bill regarding the outcome of alienating American gun owners. As the old saying goes, now she does!
/fl
Piracy
Cruising Caution
This from 'Lectronic Latitude':
German Cruiser Kidnapped Again
On Monday [November 7, 2016], the Associated Press reported that a German sailor who was kidnapped by Somali pirates eight years ago has apparently been captured again — this time by Islamic militants in the southern Philippines. Members of that country's military found the man's yacht with a woman's body aboard.
Rockall, seen [above] boarded by Philippine authorities, has been called a "30-ft boat" in some media reports, but she's obviously bigger than that.
Major Filemon Tan of the Philippine military reports that Abu Sayyaf militants have announced that they kidnapped Jurgen Gustav Kantner and killed his female companion while the couple was cruising off neighboring Malaysia's Sabah coast. Villagers from Laparan Island, in the Sulu province of the southwestern Philippines, found Kantner's German-flagged yacht, Rockall, with a woman's body aboard, lying beside a shotgun.
In 2008 Kantner, 70, who is diabetic, and his wife, Sabine Merz, were kidnapped off Somalia — apparently from the same boat — and were later freed. Judging from the passports found onboard, the deceased woman is believed to be Merz. "The body found was naked and had several contusions to the face and was possibly raped," the military said.
Despite a sizable joint offensive by the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia to ensure safety on their seas, the Abu Sayyaf have recently committed many acts of piracy, kidnapping Indonesians and Malaysians from tugboats and fishing boats.
Anticipating that the terrorist group, which supports itself through ransom payoffs, may soon demand ransom for Kantner, Major Tan explained the Philippine government's no-ransom policy: "If we give in to ransom, a greater damage will be done. They can use the money to buy arms and to feed their bandits, and that will fuel again the tendency for them to kidnap," he said. "It becomes a lucrative business."
Situational awareness! What can be said except be careful where you go, and also that a solution to this kind of problem does exist — it's been around since 1911 and before. Granted that the vessel in this case was German flagged, a United States documented yacht, while flying the U.S. flag, is considered U.S. 'soil' anywhere in world. In that regard, it comes with some relief that we may soon have a stronger, more competent and responsive, Department of State.
/fl
Law and Order
Our Constitution
Our Constitution provides us with two notable barriers between freedom and tyranny: Article II, and Amendment II. Both of these barriers have been, and are, under attack for a variety of reasons.
The first step in defending our Constitution is understanding its importance, including the importance of each element. We've recently dealt with, and continue to deal with, the importance of Amendment II, and now comes the time to reconsider the importance of Article II.
In his Daily Briefing today, Albert Mohler includes a synopsis of the importance of the "Electoral College."
/fl
Society
Pandora's Demise
and the Bonfire of The Enclaves
Seems to be the natural progression for the "Progressive" approach!
It's time for a new 'founder's model'.
/fl
Baseball
Cubs Win!
The Morning After
On the morning of October 15, 1908, the Chicago Daily Tribune ran the following cartoon celebrating the Cubs' World Series win. The Cubs had just defeated the Detroit Tigers that year to become Major League Baseball's world champions.
(Tribune archives)
It has been 108 years since that last "good morning"....... Leave it to the 2016 Cubs to wrap 108 years of frustration and anxiety into one game — and come out a winner!
Congratulations!
/fl