“President Barack Obama is opening a new front in the gun control debate,” politico.com reports, “readying a big push for so-called smart gun technology — an initiative that the gun lobby and law enforcement rank and file is already mobilizing against.” Oh good! If law enforcement officers are against it, that puts the pro-gun control side in a pickle. Support smart guns for the “only ones” they deem worthy of carrying guns against the wishes of their police supporters. “As early as Friday, Obama is set to formally release findings from the Defense, Justice and Homeland Security Departments on ways to spur the development of guns that can be fired only by their owner, according to industry and gun control sources. Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett is slated to preview the announcement for stakeholders on Thursday afternoon.” Listen to the cops caterwaul . . .
While the “smart gun” element of the actions drew little attention earlier this year [ED: As part of his January executive actions, Obama directed agencies to “consider whether including such technology in specifications for acquisition of firearms would be consistent with operational needs.”] critics are gearing up to fight back against the possibility that such guns could be required for government firearms purchases.
A source familiar with the plans said that type of mandate isn’t on tap right now, but critics are still worried the administration is laying the groundwork for such a move. Among the biggest skeptics are cops worried about testing an unproven technology on the streets.
“Police officers in general, federal officers in particular, shouldn’t be asked to be the guinea pigs in evaluating a firearm that nobody’s even seen yet,” said James Pasco, executive director of the Fraternal Order of Police. “We have some very, very serious questions.” . . .
Of the 330,000 officers in his union, Pasco said, “I have never heard a single member say what we need are guns that only we can fire,” noting that there might be moments in close combat when an officer would need to use a partner’s weapon or even the suspect’s.
Serious questions? Must be serious! Seriously, you couldn’t ask for a better way to kill mandatory smart guns than having cops cry foul. We’re not against consumer choice, but this is good news for gun rights.