A California gun shop that put the world's first so-called “smart gun” on its shelves is apparently backing away from any association with the high-tech firearm after intense backlash from customers and gun rights advocates, The Washington Post reported.

 

The Oak Tree Gun Club, located outside Los Angeles, faced immediate criticism after putting the Armatix iP1 smart gun on sale. The .22-caliber pistol, made by a German company, can only function with an accompanying wristwatch, which is sold separately.

 

Gun rights advocates worry that the firearm's availability will give a boost to a New Jersey law mandating that all handguns in the state be personalized within three years of a smart gun going on sale anywhere in the U.S., according to The Washington Post.

 

Sen. Edward Markey, D-Mass., unveiled a gun control bill last month requiring all new guns be "personalized" with special features, such as fingerprint-reading technology, so they can only be fired by their owners or other authorized users.

 

“These people are anti-gunners,” someone said of Oak Tree on the store’s Facebook page, The Post reported. One Yelp wrote, “If you care about the ability to exercise your [second Amendment] rights, I would suggest that you do not continue to frequent this place.”

 

The store has since denied offering the gun and apologized for confusion on several websites despite the owner's comments to The Post about putting the gun on sale. Armatix executives also sent the paper photos of the smart gun on display at the store.

 

Belinda Padilla, president of Armatix’s U.S. division, told the newspaper that Oak Tree owner James Mitchell canceled a TV interview about the the gun’s sale after receiving phone calls from gun rights groups questioning the company's decision.

 

Mitchell "was clearly distraught," Padilla told The Post. “I told him, ‘It’s going to be okay. You’re doing the right thing.’ Then it just got worse.”

 

Padilla said she was disappointed about Oak Tree’s reaction.

 

“It’s sad, because at the end of the day, he was trying to do something good, which is provide choice for those people that want safety,” Padilla told the newspaper.

 

 

If you don't think this will happen Sen Weinberg has already sent a letter to NJ AG notifying him that this gun is available for sale.

 

You can thank Stevens Institute and Taurus because when NJ passed this stupid law Taurus was the ONLY gun company to literally sign their name to it.

 

If you doubt it just Google NJ smart gun and read up on the history of this bill.

 

Guess we have three years left before they win the fight.

 

 

Armatix.US the companies site

 

Who is John Galt?

I am so excited I figured out how to change my signature.

If these things are so great I will go out and get one -- AFTER they take away all the real guns from every LEO and government personnel and require they only use these!!!  PS - I will keep all my dumb guns too, which are much smarter as they go bank when I pull the trigger.

I'm curious how the store owner can be so clueless. How did he not see that one coming.

 

 

The .22-caliber pistol, made by a German company, can only function with an accompanying wristwatch, which is sold separately.

 

SMFH.  It's new technology and you package the "unlocking device" separate from the weapon?  Seriously?

SMFH.  It's new technology and you package the "unlocking device" separate from the weapon?  Seriously?

Maybe if they don't sell you the watch, they can market it as a paperweight.