Clifford
My answer to question 1 is that guns should be treated as a special class of products since they have a special place in our society.
My answer to question 2 is that saving lives, while noble and worthwhile is not an exercise worth abrogating our constitutional rights over.
Would you give up the protections afforded to you in the 4th and 5th amendments if it saved lives? Would you allow the government to quarter soldiers in your home against your will if it saved lives? Would you allow the police to search homes without a warrant if it saved lives? Would you give up the right to not self incriminate if it saved lives?
I agree with you that the tech will continue to improve. I just dont think its something like this should be funded by the federal goivernment or mandated to be developed by the federal government. It has less to do with guns and more about what I believe the federal government should and shouldnt be doing.
If your hypothetical scenario were to be born out in testing I think it would be great. The gun should also be subjected to extreme temperatures, water, ice and sand. If it functions after being subjected to all of those elements that is terrific. Would I personally purchase one? No. I'd rather not be dependent on electronics in a gun, no matter how reliable, for it to fire. Others may want this and that is just fine. I prefer the mechanical features that make current guns robust and reliable. I dont want anyone to be denied the opportunity to purchase a gun with this tech in it if they so choose. I just dont want to be forced to buy it if I dont want it. i dont know if you know it or not but their are guys who prefer black powder muzzle loading rifles to more modern cased cartridge firing rifles. There are shooters who prefer the simplicity and sturdy reliability of revolvers to semi automatic pistols. There are guys who like guns made entirely of forged steel as opposed to the polymers found in many semi auto pistols. As this tech develops there will be people who prefer a "smart" gun to a "dumb" one. And there will be others who forgo the modernity of the smart gun for the perceived reliability and simplicity of the old dumb guns.
This is an awesome post.
Bolded a few points I loved in particular.
I'd like to add that I find the wretches who are part of the Westboro Baptist Church to be morally reprehensible and their actions dispicable. But while I dont condone their speech. They have a right to exercise that speech as long as it doesnt hurt or interfere with others.
This would be a great argument if the federal government were imposing a safety standard that harmed the effectiveness of guns in a significant way.
Your 2nd amendment only gives you the right to bear arms. The case icon cited apparently adds to that that nothing can be imposed that would prevent the owner from using the gun for self-defense.
What I am proposing would do neither. But I'm done repeating myself on this score. Seems you have successfully conflated this safety measure with gun control, which is the exact tactic that has been used to discourage funding of the technology and slowed development.
Seems like if you gave a #### about the collateral damage your right causes you would want something a little stronger than optional safety settings. Personally I want to protect the child of the stupid irresponsible gun owner. I don't think having ####ty parents should be a death sentence.
But whatever, this country is ####ed on this issue.