The trouble with
‘smart guns’

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The government programs and spending never stop under Bill Clinton.
His latest proposal is to commit $10 million of taxpayer funds to test and develop “smart guns” that can only be fired by their owners.

Like all federal government plans, it’s difficult to know where to begin criticizing such an ill-conceived idea. But let me give it a try.

No. 1: Show me where in the enumerated powers of the U.S. Constitution, the federal government has the authority to allocate such funds. Of course, this is a challenge that can made of perhaps 99 percent of federal initiatives and, unfortunately, will not be used as a debating point in Congress.

No. 2: We live, supposedly, in a market economy. If you believe in free enterprise and there is a natural market for such guns, why shouldn’t those manufacturing firearms develop and test such weapons? Do we really believe the government has a more efficient mechanism for developing and testing products than private industry? Is there really a demand for such guns? And, if not, how does the government plan to create one? And why?

No. 3: Are so-called “smart guns” really a good idea? I seriously question that. I wouldn’t want one. If, for instance, such a gun could not be fired by anyone but me, it would be of no use to my wife, presumably, my kids or anyone else I would like to use it in an emergency. Suppose I wanted to sell my gun or give it to one of my kids some day? Could it be reprogrammed? Who wants the hassle? The point is, there are definitely downsides to the “smart gun” idea. They are not nearly as versatile as a dumb gun and will certainly be more costly.

No. 4: Could it be the real reason government is getting involved in this issue is because they can be controlled — perhaps even disabled — by the state? Remember, the central reason the founders of our country prohibited government from infringing on the natural right of citizens to bear arms was because of their strong belief that only a vigilant and armed populace could, ultimately, hold the government accountable. The Second Amendment wasn’t a bill designed to protect the rights of hunters. It was not, so much, an effort to ensure that citizens could defend themselves from criminals — though that was clearly a consideration and a legitimate concern. The primary issue for those who truly care about liberty and preventing government oppression was and is preserving the ability of the people to defend themselves from state terror — either an invasion from abroad or an invasion from within. If government maintained a “key” to smart guns, wouldn’t that just be so convenient?

What this proposal boils down to is gun control. It’s just the latest effort by the state to increase its power over the people. The gun grabbers will use any argument they can to destroy our God-given, constitutionally protected individual rights. They’ll use any camouflage. They’ll use any and every method. They’ll use any argument. And this is just the latest in a long-range plan to deny you and your children their basic civil rights.

You can be assured that after the government conducts some research and some tests, the next phase of the plan will be legislation that requires all firearms to be equipped with such technology. Do you have any doubts? That’s why this plan must be opposed as fiercely as an effort to ban the sale and possession of firearms. Don’t let this camel put its nose under the tent. Understand what the real goal is.

It’s time for freedom-loving people to rise up in anger and tell the government enough is enough. Government has no authority making laws abridging our right to bear arms. Period. End of story. We don’t need any more restrictive laws; we need to repeal those already on the books. Take the offensive. Reframe the debate. Don’t let the issue be obscured by those with an agenda for more state control over our lives.

Not only are we all safer in a well-armed community of self-governed individuals, we’re also freer.

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A daily radio broadcast adaptation of Joseph Farah’s commentaries can be heard at http://www.ktkz.com/