ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, September 19, 1996 TAG: 9609190057
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: Associated Press
AN ELECTRONIC SIGNAL in the pistol's magazine would prevent anyone but the owner from firing the .40-caliber gun.
House lawmakers unveiled a hi-tech ``smart'' gun being developed for use by law enforcement officers that can be fired only by its owner.
The .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol, being developed by Colt Manufacturing Co., uses radio-frequency technology to block an unauthorized person from firing it. Experts estimate one in six police officers killed with a firearm is shot with his or her own weapon taken by assailants.
``What we're trying to do is reduce those risks,'' Rep. Steven Schiff, R-N.M., said Wednesday.
``It is not enough to be tougher on crime. We have to be smarter,'' said Rep. Patricia Schroeder, D-Colo. ``Crime-fighting technology is not just for James Bond. It should be available to our cops on the street.''
Schiff and Schroeder, both members of the House Judiciary Committee, were joined by Reps. Sam Gejdenson and Barbara Kennelly, both Connecticut Democrats. Colt is based in West Hartford, Conn.
Sandia National Laboratories also released a study on smart gun technology conducted with a grant from the National Institute of Justice, research arm of the Justice Department.
``There's still work that needs to be done,'' said Doug Weiss, a researcher with the lab's power electronics and custom controllers department.
Doug Overbury, Colt vice president of engineering, said the new firearm would be ready for use by law enforcement agencies in about three years. The possibility of sales to the general public has yet to be decided, he said.
Overbury said the technology adds about 50 percent to the cost of a firearm. The prototype, for example, would cost about $900, compared with $600 for its corresponding conventional model.
A receiver inside the gun's magazine picks up electronic signals from a transponder worn by the user inside a wristband or ring.
``Everyone can't afford a $900 firearm,'' Chip Walker, spokesman for the National Rifle Association, said after the news conference. ``The NRA welcomes new technology that has the potential of safeguarding law enforcement. Whether or not this proves useful for law enforcement remains to be seen. Smart guns don't necessarily make for smart owners.''
LENGTH: Short : 50 linesby CNB