SECOND REGULAR SESSION
House Concurrent Resolution No. 28
92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Whereas, although mandatory background checks and waiting periods help ensure that guns do not fall into the wrong hands, there is currently no way to limit the use of a gun to the original purchaser. If guns were personalized so that only the buyer could operate them, many deaths, both accidental and intentional, could be prevented; and
Whereas, the technology to produce personalized guns, or "smart guns", already exists and is being tested by companies such as Colt and Smith & Wesson. Four major versions of the technology are (1) a magnetic ring worn by the owner that matches a magnet inside the gun that allows it to be activated; (2) a transponder worn by the owner that activates the gun when the corresponding transponder inside the gun is within a close range; (3) a combination lock placed on the gun itself; and (4) a fingerprint recognition device; and
Whereas, while these "smart gun" technologies can be manufactured for a low price on a widespread scale, to date manufacturers are not yet including the new technologies in their new firearms models; and
Whereas, Maryland was the first state to enact legislation to have the Handgun Roster Board, the state's gun regulation agency, begin a comprehensive review of personalized handgun technologies which noted the number and variety of models available and examined new research on technological advances. In addition, the legislation required that, as of January 1, 2003, all new handguns must have integrated mechanical safety devices (a locking mechanism that is built into the gun); and
Whereas, in 2000, New Jersey passed legislation that provided funding for smart gun research and called for all handguns sold in the state to have smart technology; and it isn't possible to retrofit older firearms with smart technology thereby making all older guns illegal to sell or own; and
Whereas, one of the problems with the current smart gun technologies is that it isn't possible to retrofit older firearms with such technology thereby making all older guns in states which pass legislation similar to Maryland and New Jersey illegal to sell or own; and
Whereas, currently, the steps to promote or even require the use of smart gun technology have not raised any legitimate Second Amendment issues or endangered gun ownership rights, and the technology promotes responsible gun ownership, while reflecting the public's right to regulate the safety of consumer products:
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-second General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby requests the Department of Public Safety to conduct a comprehensive review of personalized handgun technologies and submit a report to the General Assembly by January 15, 2005, on its findings and recommendations; and
Be it further resolved that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the Director of the Department of Public Safety.