No no no. The batteries going flat will be the owner's fault. There will have to be legislation that requires the owner store the gun in it's docking station that is built into the gun safe that the owner will have to purchase.

But Consalvo clearly stated that the cost isn't an issue, since it's the "right" thing to do.

Another dolt with no clue. Another proposal to punish the legitimate gun owner and ensure only the wealthy will own guns.

Don't forget that he also wants all guns retrofitted with the technology. Just to ensure you punish all gun owners equally.

And privacy rights aren't an issue either. He seems to think objects don't have privacy rights, but can't conclude that objects are owned by people. Can you imagine the criminal who figures out how to track these devices. He'll be able to locate any house with a gun and then can either choose to steal the gun for a short term crime or to rob another house that won't be able to defend itself.

Brilliant logic.

Mandatory tracking devices = very bad.
Optional tracking devices = no problem whatsoever.

Of course, I didn't see the word "optional" included anywhere in the article. Besides, I am always extremely skeptical of anything that a government official calls a "common-sense idea".

You know, with GPS tracking, they can finally determine that Guns do not move by themselves

Of course, I didn't see the word "optional" included anywhere in the article. Besides, I am always extremely skeptical of anything that a government official calls a "common-sense idea".

I am also always extremely skeptical of anything that a government official starts off calling "optional".

BIG BROTHER IS LOOKING FOR YOUR GUNS why dont those idiots spend better time loking in on the dirty luandry in their own backyards

Actually guys, with RFID tags they don't require any energy to track. They have this grid that when a transmitter emits the power it charges it up and the electronic chip in the middle of the grid gives off a unique signal that the transmitter can also receive. Wal Mart is implementing a system that will track every pallet of merchandise that goes into each store and all high value items like electronics already have them on every item. They hope they can make the system cheap enough to implement it on every product they ever sell and be able to tune the system to the point they can track every item anywhere inside the store. The conspiracy theorist think that with some newer developments they can track this stuff back to your house. THey aren't that advanced yet but I bet with some tweaking the government can install stuff like this on stop light polls (ala red light camera) and be able to track all kinds of goodies. Vehicles, persons on probation, firearms... Hell, it is a lot cheaper than GPS! 36 cents for each unit and probably a lot easier to sell to people since they won't be able to continiously track it all over.

I know the system you are speaking of, Rhett, it is sort of like the one used to catch people shoplifting when they take it out through the doors. I imagine it would be fairly easy to blow out with a magnetic field, however.

Tyranny is always common sense to the governing classes.

Pretty soon thoses little chips will be imbebed in your skin, want that be fun. Talk about invasion of privacy.

RFID is a worry, but not as much as this suggestion. With a GPS/Cell phone combination the person seeking the gun could do it at a distance and plot the owner on a map.

RFID has only a short distance of readability. I think 63 feet is the longest distance for the Passive type of chip.

Though fortunately someone is working of a device to fry RFID chips. I'll certainly buy one if they come out.

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/01/rfid_zapper.html

Overheard in a Boston police station sometime in the future.

"15 meters. 8 meters. 3 meters! Look at the screen! They're everywhere. Oh my god, they've got us surrounded."

These fool politicians are always doing something simpley for the news medias feeding freinzy