•
The condition of rh<.- imernal discon nect dev i(t
is impossible to de rermin e fro m ex tern a l
exam inat ion .
•
For twi ning and sa fe t}' pu rposes, it is com mon
to load a si ng le round and fi re rhe gun w irh the:magazi ne re mo ved .
Mec han ical dev ices are nor rh c
<lnS W(:'f
SPORTING ARMS AND AMMUNITION MANUFACTURERS' I NSTITUTE. INC.
S ince 1926
when it
co mcs to red uci ng accide m a l fi rea rm filt<di ties and
acc id c nts . Adhe re nce (Q rhe wd l-eswblis heJ rul es of
saf<: fir<:l.l rn) s sto rage and ha ndling have serv(:d to
reduct· fl rear m s- relatcd fara liries [0 h isrori cally low
levds - an d ,Idhen:n cc 1.0 thest' rules will be the kt'y
[(") futu re rt'dun ions .
Owner Recognition
Technology
Loaded Chamber
Indicators
Tbl: !: J'pOr!illl!, ' \rlm alld li llJlll/fllilion t1l mlllji:ICtlm:r/
I Il.ailllll:
iJ a
!rae/e two(;at;fill
(l,be
1I(({;m/r
letld;llg
JIIaJl-
!liIC/llre!"s u/.!jiorfillg /i n:({/"I/I.f dlul (fIIllJl!IlI;tillll . FfJllIlckti
ilt 1926 at tbe reqlll!s/ o/Ihe/edtrtt/ gOl'('rJl7llell!. SA/\ ;H I
;'a.1" /;eell cw it /ely ilJl"o/t'(?(/ in the Imb/icclliull iii ;m/mll )'
standa rch. (I.JOrdinatioll 0/ ttdm;(({1 dtlhl , (md tbe prolllotioll oj .wle aud reJ/,omible j1/"W/"lt/J me. S/lA iHI m rrenll)
j)Jf/;/ishes II/orr: !bml 700 J!alldards re/(//(yl t f) firearlJl alld
al/tIIl/lIlil ;011 qlla/it) alld Jaldy. For t:I IiJ! ill,~ of SA;\ J\I I
members. pleme write to:
Magazine Disconnect
Features
I I Mile Hill Roacl
Background Paper #9
New town . CT 061\70
www.saa ml. org
1t221 SM TH
6102
OWNER RECOGNITION
TECHNOLOGY
Owner recogn iti on [(>acures are frequently roU(ed as a possible future technology for use o n
firearms (commonly re[t rred to as "smarr guns'").
Owner recognition fearures consist of m echa nical o r
eleccronic devin's (har, tither by voice recog nition ,
radio frequency or magnNic wave transmission, or
fingerprint iclcncificarion (o r o ther type of si milar
tec hnology), allow only an aurhori zed person (0 fire
a firearm. This technology, if eve r proven reliable
and available, might be capab le of "freezing" a
firearm if tht' g un fell into rhe hands of an unaur horized user. Moreover, ow ner recognition fea(llces
may not be desirable for lise in all app licati ons and
( I rcu msranccs.
As emicing as rhe prospect of a "smarr gun"
rna)' be. rhe rrurh is that slich rechnology is in the
pro(Qtype srages and no feasib le or reliable "s man
gun" exists. Conside r rhar all rhe cu rrem rechnologies require some rype of power sou rce. A key quesri on is whar happens when rhe power supp ly run s
our. Does the gun become "un-smarr" and operate
like a normal firearm wirhom the rechnology, or
does the gun lock up and refuse to fire? The overr iding concern with owner recogn ition feawres is
th at tht techno logy nor comprom ise the firearm's
rtli ability. An y technology that relies on a solenoid
power suppl y or wave rran smi ss ion has rhe pocemial
fo r no r working or being jammed o r interrupred ac
the precise moment the gun is needed to defend life,
loved ones, or p roperry. This potent ial downside
muSt be elim inated (Q make owner recognition technologya feasible, reliable and accep ted addition (Q
firearms, especially handguns.
Th e fire-arms industry is nor opposed to efforts
to deve lop new technolo~ie:s, including owner recognition technology, bUt it cannot now dete rmin e if
tht"y will ever prove praCtical or viable. Several
major fi rearm manufaCturers are attempti ng to
develop various types of "smarr gun" technology.
U n like incorporating ow ner recognition technology
in oth er products, any techno logy in corpont ted in a
firearm musc work pe rftcrly and instantaneously
eve ry time. The few seconds it cou ld rake" recogn ition device to work or work prope rl y cou ld mean che
difference be-rween being a victim or warding off an
anacker.
The firearms industry has spent millions of do llars advocating safe and responsible gun ownersh ip,
Secure gun locking devices. \vhich do not have che
above disadvantages. are being used toda)1 by every
firea rm s manufacturer. The common-sense rules of
safe firearm storage have: helped reduce accidemal
firearm faraliries ro hiscorically low levels. Any saftry d ev ice musr nor give gun owners a fa lse se nse of
stc u rity about how and where th ey store [hei r
firearms. An y firea rm , when nOt in Lise, shou ld be
locked up wirh the ammunition stored sepa rately.
The firearms industry is very concerned that "smart
,gun" technology, even if someday proven. may give
ow ners a rdaxed sense of duty when it comts to how
rhey store thtir fi rearms.
Owner re:cognition technology is being
researched and developed for closer examination and
tesring. It remains to be seen, however, whether
rechnological addirions to a firearm can prcvem
unallthorizcd use of the fire-arm while not compromising the firearm's rt:iiabiliry or design funnional ity. These concerns shou ld be fully <lnswertd before:
any owne r- recognirion technolo~y is imroduced OntO
rhe market.
RADIO TRANSMITTER
Ins id e tht· grip of the firearm is a receiver rhat emirs
a rad io frequency to a wristband transponder worn
b)' t he lIst·r. Only rhe user wirh thl' wrisrband would
be capablc of firin,g the gun.
EXAMPI.ES
•
•
•
OF
CO;":C[R;":S
The wristband is large and bulky and could be
taken by an unauthorized use-r if lefr lying
around.
1 or 100 pe rcent rei iable.
The g un ca nnor fi rc except from rhe hand on
which rhe wristband is attached. In other
words, if forced to fi re the gun from )'Ollr other
•
hand, the fi rc-arm would nor work. If rhi s is
addressed. the gun cou ld be fired by orhe rs
when in close proximi(~' to rh e wrisrbanu , slich
as during a strugg le.
Power source fa ilure. \X/ ha t happe ns ro usab ilit y
•
of t he gun when rhe power so urce fails!
\Xlhar happens to the tec hnology a fter firing
several hundred rounds through dll' firearm ?
•
•
•
Th e wri stba nd is tOO big a nd bulky to be worn
co mforrably or easily.
Ca n so m eone den:lop tEch no logy dt's i,gned co
d efeat, interfe re with. or jam thi s radio
freq uencr (echnolo~y!
Is it possible to desi~n and manufacm[c
(:iccrfonic co mponentry th,lt can fllon ion every
time in th e ha rsh t m ' ironmtnr of tirearm,
including rcsis ranc(: co shock. sa nd . wa((:r, icing.
h<:ar and orher environmenrai ex-ue mes!
including resistance [Q shock. sa nd, water, ic ing,
hea t and other em'i ronme mal e xrremes!
FINGE RPRI NT RECOGNITI ON
\
I
Fingerprim Recog nit ion Tec hnology wou ld pur se nso rs on the g un's g ri ps [() iuencify n: rc'l in finge rprines as auehorized use rs ,
E XA.\ IPLES 01' CO:-\CER ' 5
•
•
•
,I
•
Not 100 perct'ne re liabh.:-.
\'? har happens to the ttchnology aftcr firi ng
sevl'fa! hund rtd rounds (hrout! h (he fi rea rm ?
\\fh a( would happe n if a use r's fingc:rs were
disfigured due to a c ue. scrape. o r burn?
\\fhar i( the use r was wearing glon:s Jue ro
ind emcnr we-,leher:-
•
Would ell(: technology recogni"e boch rigln and
le(( hand fin,!!e rprims:'
VO ICE RECOGN ITI ON
A voi ce recog nition ch ip is impiam ed in rh l:
firearm allowi ng only rh e <luchorizeclusc:r co fin: the
•
g un upon issu ing a recog n ized verbal co mmand .
•
Firearm g ripping n:chniques \'ar}'. pa rticularl y
in times of stress . and may nor prestnr t he fing er
in a pos ition allowin.l! p rompt identification,
Powe r so urce fail un.: . \X/ hat happens to rccog ni(ion and usability of the: gun when the powe r
source tilils!
15 it possib le to des ig n and m al1 ufacrurt: el ec t roni c compon e nrr~' chat C,l n fun ct io n eVl-ry
tim e in t he harsh ell\'ironm em of a firea rm ,
including res ista nce to shock . sa nd. w,ne r, ic in.l! .
hear and Other env ironme O(al exerem es?
EX t\~IPL[!-J OF C O:\"CER,",S
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
K ot 100 pc-tecll( re li abh: .
\X/ hat ha ppe ns to rhe technology afn.: r firing
s(:ve rill hundred rounds throll~h rhe fin:arrn?
Powe r source fa ilun:. \\fhar happens ro usabi lity
of rhe gu n when rh e power source bils!
\'<Ihac hap pC:l1 s when a user's voice c hanges
piech, (om:, or other arrr ib urc: due [Q sr[t:ss,
injury. illness or orhcr situationa l o r
uwironmenmi pressure?
\X/Qu ld rhe ,gun be capable of brin£! fired rorevt' r
afre r th e \'o ice comm and is iss ued . Or ,yould it
"fcc'cze up" aft er it ce rtain ilmounr of rim e!
\'\Iould rhe H:chnology recognize whispers. loud
yells, or a ny \'oice inflection ocht: r than whm is
considc red normal speakin~ re ne
Is it possible to Jesit!11 dnu m,lI1ufm:ture
e lectronic comp{)nenrr~' that CM} funct ion e:-ve ry
time in the harsh environmenr of a firearm,
LOADED CHAMBER
INDICATORS
Load t d chamber indi carors (L CI) are cit-vi ces
1 bui l( inro a firearm rha r indicate wh ct her a rOll nd is
J
in the gun's firin,g cll<l m ber. Tht LCI is (~'pi cally a
sm a ll pin or leyer in the slide rlMt appe~1rs whe n ;l
round is in rht fi ring c hambe r. 50m<: ce O(t rfin:
firearm manu(acrun.·rs liSe (hi s rc-c hnology. Loadt·d
chamber ind ic(lrors are impractical for lise on
firear ms (har fire 22 ca li be r rimfire carcridges dl1<: co
tht prim er be'ing widl in tht rim of (he shc- ll casi ng.
LC I works
rhe rim of (ht: casc- he,ld, If (here is a
orr
misfeed, the Le I may suike the rim (acting like a
firing pin) and ignite the p rim er causing an accidenwi discha rgt and a dangero us situati on.
A major drawback ro the LeI is that the user
mUSt bt familiar with firea rms ro understand what
the indicaro r means. A cbild, curiaLIS youngste r or
other person unfamiliar with firea rm s who co m es
across a firearm with a Lei \vill not know what the
dot on the rear of the slide means. If rhe user is sufficiently trained and familiar with fi rearms to know
abo lit the LeI feature, the user would prefe r a visual
check over a Lei ro determine if a round is cham bered.
Loaded chamber indicarors arc on ly availab lt on
semi -alltomat ic handguns. On revolvers. tht ca rtridges in the cylinders are visible. The user's eyes
are the loaded chamber indicaro rs fo r a n,:volvcr.
lei s cannot be ustd on a firearm that has a tip up
bar rel (several manufacturers' models employ this
feature).
Another concern is that t he loaded chamber
indic:lror only signifits whtthtr a round is in t he
chamber; it does not mean that dll' firtarm is incapable of discharging that round. A Le I is not a
"safety" in the rraditional sense (that is . a dtvice
buile into the firearm that prevents tht: g un fro m
discharging a round ). It is simply an indicato r that
requires basic firea rm knowledge to properly interpre(.
Several major manufanurers of firearms include
a loaded chamber indicator in their designs. Ochers
do no(. As a matter of policy, the Sparring Arms
and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institllte does not
advocate, nor disapprovl: of. the use of lCls, bu t
does question whether their usc seryes any safe ty
purpose. \'(/e undersrand rhe concern of some manu facturers who fear that the inclusion of LCls will
lead to a relaxed sense of awareness and safe firearms
handling. Reliance on an LeI as the sole de(erminant of whcther a firearm is loaded is unwise and
potentially dangerous and should never replace the
basic safety rule requiring carf.'ful examina(ion of the
firearm and opening the anion to be completely sure
the gun is unloaded. Such a device is no excuse fo r
overlooking the number one rule of firearm safe ty:
creat every gun as if it were loaded. Firearm manufacture rs presently design all g uns to be eas il y
checked (0 determine if they are loaded .
For people familia r with firearms . a loaded
chamber indicator can be a helpful vi sual cue to heir
th e user see whether a round is in th e chamber, particularl y at ni g ht. Loaded chamber indicators . however, are not safeties, nor are rher effective if the;- lIse;- r
has no familiariry with firea rms. l oaded chamber
indi cato rs should not be a subs titute for the co mmon-sense rules of safe fi rearm sto rage and handling.
MAGAZINE DISCONNECT
FEATURES
A magazine disconnect feature does nor all ow a
user to fire the gun without a magazine (am muni tion feeding device) in place, regardless of whether a
round is in the chambe r (in position to be fired) .
\Xl h il e some firearms are equipped wich th is feature,
most federal, state, and local law enforcement age ncies and the military specify that firearms nor be
equipped wirh magazine d isco nnect devices.
.M agazine d isconnect ftatures arc nor used
frequently for many reaso ns. Amon g th em are t he
following:
•
•
•
•
The gu n is useless if [he m agazine is lost or
forgotten.
The user ca nnot fire the gun if the magazine is
dropped while reloading.
If a round is inadvertently left in the chamber
and a person insens an empry magazine into rhe
firearm the gun can fi re. One obvious concern
with magazine disconnect features is that
determining whether the gun is safe becomes
link ed (0 th e presence of the magazine as
opposed to acrually checking (he g un , opening
the action, and making su re i( is unloaded.
If tht: magazin e disco nn ect fails, it usual ly does
so in tht: "fire" position because of rus t , fatigue,
or debris .