A group of mayors and other officials—including prominent anti-gun politicians like Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy and Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn—have signed a letter to major gun manufacturers, asking them what progress they are making in developing so-called “smart guns.” Some of the signees have pushed for police departments to drive the market by serving as early adopters of such firearms.
The NRA is not opposed to the development of “smart” guns, although the technology at this point does not appear to be reliable—especially for first responders. “Once we open that door, I think it is going to be very hard to close it,” said Police Chief Brandon Perkins of Tyrone, Ga. “There is always that potential for failure—in our world there is no room for failure.”
