WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09), applauded President Obama for taking steps to expedite the deployment of "smart" gun technology. “Given Republicans’ failure to act to address gun violence, I am glad the Obama Administration will now encourage the development of new technology to enhance gun safety.

Aside from the security features, this technology will expand consumer choices for those wanting to purchase a firearm," Rep. Pascrell said.

"Although millions of dollars have already been invested to develop new concepts for improving firearm safety and tracking, I am pleased that the single largest purchaser of firearms in the country is stepping up its efforts to advance this research. By developing safer guns with new technology, it will be easier to retrieve a smart gun if it is lost or stolen – and harder for accidental discharges to happen. Overall, it will make our country a safer place to live.”

In 1999, Pascrell introduced comprehensive federal "smart" gun legislation, the Childproof Handgun Act. The bill required gun manufacturers to develop and produce a "smart" or "personalized" gun within five years of passage. A personalized handgun, known as a "smart" gun, is one that incorporates technology to allow operation only by authorized users. The Pascrell bill was also re-introduced in 2001 and 2005, but never received a vote.

Pascrell's measure also called for the Comptroller General of the United States to issue a comprehensive report to Congress on the feasibility of personalized technology within two years of passage. If the report determines that such technology is not practicable at that time, the requirements on manufacturers would be dropped.

In 2008, Pascrell helped secure a federal grant from the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) to continue developing childproof smart gun technology. Since 2000, NJIT has spearheaded efforts to develop a personalized handgun that can recognize, instantly and reliably, one or more pre-programmed authorized users. The $254,889 DOJ grant, which was earmarked by U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Rep. Pascrell, helped NJIT improve its “Dynamic Grip Recognition” technology and move smart gun technology closer to commercial consideration.

This past January, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum directing the Departments of Defense (DOD), Homeland Security (DHS), and Justice (DOJ) to prepare a report outlining a strategy for expediting the real-world deployment of smart gun technology.

Today, those agencies released that report. Among the highlights:

♦ DOJ and DHS have begun a process to define, for the first time, the requirements that manufacturers would need to meet for federal, state, and municipal law enforcement agencies to consider purchasing firearms with enhanced safety technology. They’ve committed to completing that process by October, and will also identify agencies interested in taking part in a pilot program to develop the technology.

♦ DOD will continue to help manufacturers test “smart” firearms under real-world conditions at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center in Maryland. Manufacturers may be eligible to win cash prizes through this program as well.

♦ The Federal Government stands ready to assist state and local governments as smart gun technology continues to be developed. In the report, DOJ has indicated that state and local governments could apply certain federal grants to the purchase of new firearms, including those equipped with advanced safety technology.

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