Smart Guns Developed in NJ, Facing Blocks in the Market

Smart guns won't fire unless the person holding the gun meets certain biometrics such as fingerprints or eye scans, making them childproof and possibly preventing violence. 

Researchers are developing one such gun at the New Jersey Institute of Technology. They are not on the market yet, but they may soon be -- with a price tag of about $1800. 

Anthony Collandro, owner of the North Jersey company Guns for Hire, thinks that high price might have racial implications. 

"Anything that is going to add to the price tag, electronics designed engineering makes it cost prohibitive, is definitely going to impact minority firearm owners,” Colandro told My9NJ.

Other market challenges include the Childproof Handgun Law of 2002 states that once personalized handguns are available anywhere in the country, only these smart guns will be for sale within 30 months, or two and a half years. 

While State Senator Loretta Weinberg supported the bill while it was being passed, she's become aware that gun manufacturers are scared to kick off a handgun ban in New Jersey by putting a smart gun on the market.  

"That's the exact opposite of what we really intended to do," Weinberg told NPR. "If I'm willing to say, well, maybe we made a mistake here we need to remove this -- then I would expect that those who think we made a mistake will join in."