While reading engadget today, I came across this article about the Armatix pistol “smartgun”.
For those that don’t know, these “smartguns” are designed to use some type of device such as a ring, or in this case, a wristwatch in order to act as an additional safety. But, these safeties, are actually a hidden danger. “Why?” I’m sure you’re asking — well, let me bring up some scenarios and talk about human nature.
Scenario 1
It’s late… 3:00 AM in the morning.. and someone breaks into your house… You quickly grab your gun as an intruder violently breaks into your room where you, your spouse and your baby sleep… Understanding that your life is suddenly at risk, you squeeze the trigger as the intruder wields a knife toward you… and you hear nothing as the knife plunges into you.. YOU ARE DEAD because you had a “smartgun” and your watch was not on your wrist… because like most people, you take it OFF when you go to bed. Oops.
Scenario 2
You get used to the fact that if you don’t have the watch on, the gun is “safe”. However, one rule about guns is IT IS ALWAYS LOADED and you NEVER POINT IT at something you do not want DESTROYED. You start getting into the bad habit of “it’s safe. I don’t have the watch on”. So you do some dry fire exercises… Except you think .oO “Unloading takes time. It’s safe. I’ll just fire the way it is.” and you start practicing…
Your friend, however, seeing you’ve left your watch in the living room decides to be helpful and brings the watch to you. As they come into the room you are in and starts to say “Hey! You left your watch ….” BOOM goes the gun as they get close.
Oops.
The number one safety of any firearm is YOUR BRAIN. NEVER depend on a mechanical or technological safety. Before doing any work or dry fire or anything else where you do NOT want the firearm to go off — make it safe. Always assume it’s loaded. Even if you walk away from it for a moment, before you start again, VISUALLY make SURE it’s UNLOADED.
Be safe out there. Let’s all come home to our families.
One Comment
I don’t see the risk of being in bed and getting killed by a helpful friend as most of these devices require the transmitter to behind the firearm. The idea being that if someone gets your weapon away from you they won’t be able to use it against you. They’ll also be considerably more expensive and less reliable than a conventional handgun, thus further restricting who will be able to own one once states pass safety laws mandating only the sale of smart weapons.
In addition there is the problem of what to do if your dominant hand/arm is injured. This is why most people who are required to carry are also required to qualify with both hands (lower standards on the off hand of course). The ring actuated pistols don’t function if the ring isn’t on the hand with the weapon and I’d assume the watch models are similar.
Generally speaking I just don’t like the idea of adding additional complexity to something I may need at 2:00 in the morning when I’m already a bit fuzzy.