Two Texas Congressmen have proposed a rather high-tech solution to the problem of border security (or, more accurately, border insecurity)--EMP. That stands for electromagnetic pulse, a phenomenon by which electronic devices can be disabled at a distance. Here's the idea:
Republican Michael McCaul and Democrat Henry Cuellar want the border patrol to use portable EMP emitters to disable cars, boats or a host of other electronic items.
A suitcase-sized EMP could thwart smugglers trying to drive illegal drugs or immigrants into the United States, the lawmakers say.
Congressman Cuellar's website has more:
“The ability to stop vehicles of smugglers from a distance without making direct contact would give our Border Patrol agents a distinct advantage,” said Congressman McCaul. “It would allow them to stop vehicles they may otherwise not be able to catch and in some cases avoid dangerous pursuits. These are the types of tools we need.”
A useful tool for securing the border? Probably. And at some point, some large, well-heeled (I think these things are pretty pricey, at the moment) domestic police force is going to realize that they work just as well for stopping the vehicles of our own, homegrown criminals, and insist on adding them to the inventory.
Still don't see a problem, and wonder, perhaps, what's the gun rights connection?
One "gun control" measure sought by the forcible citizen disarmament advocates is "childproof" handguns (sometimes called, apparently without deliberate irony, "smart guns"). The idea is that these guns would somehow (methods vary) identify the gun owner--the only person "authorized" to fire the gun, and not fire if anyone else is holding the gun.
So far, New Jersey has passed a law requiring all handguns sold be equipped with this technology, as soon as it becomes available (yep--they're mandating technology that doesn't exist yet), and Washington D.C. will put the same requirement in place by next year--and I'm not sure that's even contingent on the technology's availability. We've discussed before the probability that if Chicago loses, as expected, the McDonald case this month, Mayor Daley will try to outdo D.C.'s oppressive gun laws, so it's a fairly safe bet that a "smart gun" technology mandate is in Chicago's future, too.
Furthermore, the Obama administration supports federal legislation mandating this technology (my emphasis added):
They support closing the gun show loophole and making guns in this country childproof.
That's from the "Urban Policy"section of "Change.gov"--the website set up by Obama and Biden after their electoral victory, but before the inauguration. It was also on the official White House website at one time, but shortly into the administration, all references to guns were quietly removed--curious, eh?
Any EMP device that could shut down a car or motorboat could also disable a so-called "smart gun." To accept a mandate for "smart guns," would be, in other words, to accept giving the government an "OFF" switch for the Second Amendment.
Atlanta: Ed Stone | Austin: Howard Nemerov | Boston: Ron Bokleman | Charlotte: Paul Valone | Cheyenne: Anthony Bouchard | Chicago: Don Gwinn | Cleveland: Daniel White | DC: Mike Stollenwerk | Denver: Dan Bidstrup | Detroit: Rob Reed | Fort Smith: Steve D. Jones | Grand Rapids: Skip Coryel | Knoxville: Liston Matthews | Los Angeles: John Longenecker | Minneapolis: John Pierce | National: David Codrea | Parkersburg: Nicholas Arnold | Phoenix: Douglas Little | Pittsburgh: Dan Campbell | Seattle: Dave Workman | St. Louis: Kurt Hofmann | Tucson: Chris Woodard | Wisconsin: Gene German
Comments
"Any EMP device that could shut down a car"...........
can put armed American patriots afoot.
Where can I learn EMP countermeasures so my 4x4v will
be operable after an EMP attack??
Doubt the EMP device will work on my horse...or my Winchester 44 mag Trapper Lever Action...
Any decent hacker can bypass the "smart" technology and do a back routing system that could kick in automatically on cars. Any print system on a gun can be removed. Cops could stop cars now with the ONSTAR system but it is expensive and brings GM into the fray legally. In the end nothing is accomplished and it only ends up costing the taxpayer more money and to jump through more hoops. And what happens when the government uses this technology and innocent people are caught and then soemthing bad happens to them? Is the government going to take responsibility for the damage or loss of life? shut down pacemakers? The taxpayer has to make sure any new technology is used correctly and the government bears any and all responsibility for its actions involving innocent parties. That is why you are not seeing a rush to use this stuff now. They are realizing the pandora's box they are about to open is not going to be the one answer fits all their problems solution they thought it might be.
One more thought or two. The EMP shuts down all electrical devices in a certain range such as drug dealers cars but also armed citizen patrol cars, radios, pacemeakers, life saving equipment, homes, telephones, etc. A lot of unintended consequences and possibly deaths. Government going to pay for the damage? And on smart guns say an officer had something on his finger or thumb and draws his gun. Maybe it was sugar powder from the donut he just ate and the gun does not read his print and refuses to fire? The criminal does and the cop is dead. Sounds dumb but prefectly possible with this technology. Oil, grease, dirt, or almost anything can stop a print from being read properly in a fraction of a second and that could get a cop killed. Maybe it is not so smart after all.
Robert- The "smart gun" laws almost always (or ALWAYS?) specifically exempt LEOs' guns. They still want to be able to kill YOU easily.
A 50-pound trigger pull would also make guns "childproof" but that isn't very smart either.
If your car has a points style ignition system it is basically immune to emp and it wouldn't take long for these to become expensive paper weights because it isn't hard to retro some vehicles to guard against emp weapons
"And what happens when the government uses this technology and innocent people are caught and then something bad happens to them?"
What happens now? "Oh dear, what a shame. Oopsie."
For the record, my guns will remain stupid.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!