Posted on 06/15/2018 6:34:17 AM PDT by Simon Green
A Connecticut Democrat introduced legislation Thursday designed to give all involved with so-called “smart guns” a tax credit in one form or another.
The Start Advancing Firearms Enhancements and Technology Act, introduced as H.R. 6109, would up federal tax credits to cover 100 percent of the research expenses in smart gun technology and, should the firearms become commercially available, exempt smart gun components from long-standing federal excise taxes. The net effect, said the sponsor, would be to both make development less risky and guns cheaper to buy for the consumer.
“If we can incentivize manufacturers to invest in smart gun technology and encourage consumers to buy those products, we can prevent more accidents, reduce violence committed with stolen guns, protect children and bring overall fatalities down,” said U.S. Rep. Jeff Himes in a statement. “And, let’s be very clear, saving lives is the absolute top priority.”
While the language of the legislation is not available, the Congressman’s office said the bill will increase the tax credit for R&D into firearm technology that incorporates biometric or fingerprint locks and radio-frequency identification to offset the full cost of investing in its development. The credit would be available for both those already conducting such research in the field as well as to new start-ups.
Further, it would exempt the firearms and their components from the current 10-11 percent federal excise tax assessed against the manufacturer, which Himes said will translate to lower prices for consumers.
Gun control groups who favor smart gun technology say it has been retarded due to “obstructionism by the gun lobby” and the proposed legislation could help produce technological advancements in the field.
“The technology to make firearms more secure already exists, but more investment in safer guns and accessories is needed for these innovations to reach the market and start protecting our children and communities,” said Robyn Thomas with Giffords. “But in order for that idea to become a reality, we must call on entrepreneurs, businesses, and investors to embrace the challenge of using new technology to power safety innovation.”
The trade group for the firearms industry has long-held that they are not opposed to the further development of so-called smart guns – so long as its use is not made a requirement by lawmakers. Laws mandating the sale of smart guns only — such as a dormant example adopted in New Jersey in 2002 — have been repeatedly blamed for the stagnation in the marketing of personalized firearms even while repeated attempts have been made by Democrats in Congress to restrict the sales of traditional guns in favor of those equipped with the budding technology.
It doesn’t help that the only smart gun made available to the domestic market in recent years is a $1,400 .22LR pistol made by a troubled niche company in Germany that proved nearly impossible to review and, ironically, was shown to be easily hacked with a magnet.
Himes’s legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means and has no co-sponsors.
Sorry, I like my guns dumb as a Democrat. But still much more useful.
It ain’t “obstructionism by the gun lobby”.....it is refusal to buy on the part of gun consumers. Ask a few street cops if they would prefer such. The ONE application in which I think the “Smart Gun” might be appropriate is if they are given free to school teachers to be worn “open carry”.
I’d never buy such a beast for my own use.
Smart Guns can be tyrned off by the Government to prevent their use by the owner.
Tyranny
No co-sponsors... In other words, even liberals don’t think it has the slightest chance.
As with all attempts at gun control, it would have to be mandated and could only work if all existing weapons were confiscated......itself an event that could only follow licensing or registration.....
oh...and CW-II
Bullcrap. Self driving cars that crash. Smart guns tha decide to fire inadvertently or not fire when they are supposed to and I need to wear a magic ring.
Bullcrap
Smart guns?
Riiiiiiiight.
As possible as smart congresscritters, smart journalists, and smart SJW “professors”.
Infringement pure and simple. Check the constitution, bozos.
Because all wireless connections, like bluetooth, always work and work instantly.
Subsidize it all you want, I will never buy a gun that is designed to not work.
What Constitution?
We gave that up on Usurpation Day, January 20, 2009
Barack Obama is NOT a natural born citizen.
“Himes’s legislation has been referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means and has no co-sponsors.”
Shove it asswipe.
The Kakistocracy lives on...
Smart guns for dumb people...
Marijuana use and stoned driving is increasing, too.
Big surprise!
Yeah. Probably true. It has to be brought to court.
I’ll still go under the assumption that that it still exists until shots are fired
Then some other “smart” ass will come up with a “smart” device that would allow perps to disable your “smart” gun. Not very “smart”.
If they forced every single cop and federal leo to use these or face mandatory jail for not using them, I say let them subsidize them.
Citizens in the free market can then choose.
EMP will knock out the smart guns.
What a dumb idea. But that's what you get from a connecticut prostitician.
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