Technology deemed by some to be too dangerous to sell to public

A new firearm featuring high-end precision technology went on sale this past Wednesday, and some in the shooting community are calling it too dangerous to be sold to the general public. 



 
New rifle features smart technology advancements that allow it to focus on target and only fire when shot is most precise.

The gun — a rifle — is called “TrackingPoint” and it is, more or less, a “smart” firearm. The user looks through the rifle’s scope, which features an advanced color graphics display, and when locked in on a target, pulls the trigger. The catch, though, is that the gun does not fire right away — instead, it holds off until it is pointed in exactly the right place, taking into consideration several different variables, including wind, shake, and distance to target.

Only when the moment to fire is most optimal does the gun discharge. 



 
TrackingPoint is a next generation firearm, designed specifically for the modern-day gun enthusiast.

The TrackingPoint rifle includes a built-in laser range finder, ballistics computer, and a Wi-Fi transmitter to stream live video and audio to nearby mobile devices. This allows every shot to be recorded, so that it can either be replayed or otherwise shared to social media sites like Facebook, YouTube, et al.

"Think of it like a smart rifle. You have a smart car; you got a smartphone; well, now we have a smart rifle," company President Jason Schauble told NPR, explaining that TrackingPoint was built specifically for hunters and target shooters, especially the younger audience, which interact with the aforementioned social media sites on a daily basis.

"They like to post videos; they like to be in constant communication with groups or networks," Schauble continues. "This kind of technology, in addition to making shooting more fun for them, also allows shooting to be something that they share with others."



TrackingPoint required a team of 70 people and three years to build. Schauble is proud of the end product, and says that there’s nothing else like it, not even in the military. He says that TrackingPoint will be sold to civilians directly. As it is a high-end, long-range gun, it is priced accordingly — $22,000 for one rifle. 


The TrackingPoint rifle features top-notch technology, which is reflected in its price.

Those concerned about the gun falling into the wrong hands can take comfort in knowing that, since it will be sold directly to customers (as opposed to going through gun dealers), the company will be able to not only vet their customers directly, but keep track of them too.

Additionally, there’s a security feature on the gun that will keep it from being used by anyone other than the original owner:

"It has a password protection on the scope,” Schauber explains. “When a user stores it, he can password protect the scope that takes the advanced functionality out. So the gun will still operate as a firearm itself, but you cannot do the tag/track/exact, the long range, the technology-driven precision guided firearm piece without entering that pass code," he says.

Demand for the rifle has, according to Schauble, been “overwhelming,” and there is a waiting list in place for orders. 


The demand is so high for the TrackingPoint rifle, a waiting list had to be created.

Remington Arms, a fellow rifle making company, is interested in what TrackingPoint has to offer the modern-day gun enthusiast, and plans on offering its own version of a next generation rifle. The company plans to sell their gun for approximately $5,000.

Is this a great achievement for the gun industry or is it too dangerous to be in the hands of the general public? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Story via: npr.org