# Digital Gun Control - Useful or Annoying? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 8, 2021, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-gun-control-useful-or-annoying/937464 "2021-03-08T18:20:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2021, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-gun-control-useful-or-annoying/937464/21 "2021-03-11T16:06:17Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I also think someone picking up a gun that’s not theirs and hurting someone with it is an very rare occurrence Toddlers, children and teenagers and people suicidally depressed do it all the time. That’s why doctors ask about guns in the home. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2021, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-gun-control-useful-or-annoying/937464/22 "2021-03-11T16:55:30Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > could a smart gun be disabled by, say, a government entity I wonder if the police would find this useful when apprehending violently dangerous gun toting criminals. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-gun-control-useful-or-annoying/937464/23 "2021-03-11T17:25:12Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > Depending on what type of technology is used, could a smart gun be disabled by, say, a government entity that decided even the lawful owner did not need to have such a weapon? Sounds like conspiracy theory, I know. But still a thought to consider. If it is online-accessible or requires to plug it into your connected system for support/maintenance/update… you may wind up with an unsolicited U2 album on it 😝 Which pretty much means your owner-ID modules would have to rely on something that is not accessible/spoofable via RF from any distance other than essentially **on** you. > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I wonder if the police would find this useful when apprehending violently dangerous gun toting criminals. This would have the issue that if they use a general ranged jammer, thet’d be likely to interfere with their _own_ smartguns. And makers would want the individual units to be “keyed” either uniquely or to a very small number of possible ID modules. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2021, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-gun-control-useful-or-annoying/937464/24 "2021-03-11T20:58:18Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > If it is online-accessible or requires to plug it into your connected system for support/maintenance/update… you may wind up with an unsolicited U2 album on it 😝 At least you would have an immediate remedy at hand to avoid having to be subjected to it. ---
**Author:** ![mordecaiB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mordecaib/32/7725_2.png) [@mordecaiB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mordecaiB)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2021, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-gun-control-useful-or-annoying/937464/25 "2021-03-17T21:23:56Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > I also think someone picking up a gun that’s not theirs and hurting someone with it is an very rare occurrence You probably need to rethink this as it happens all the time. And I’m not talking about once a week. How many kids are shot by, or shoot themselves with, a parents gun? How about suicides using a parent or partners gun? Not rare and especially not _very_ rare. As for digital locks on guns, I think a big no. Too complicated a answer for the problem they would solve. I would rather have more responsibility put on gun owners to secure their weapons. It’s you weapon, you are responsible for it. If the gun is out of your personal control, secure it with a gun lock or better yet a safe. Your kid gets your gun and shoots themselves or someone else? You go to jail. You pay all damages. You don’t get to own guns again, since you have proven you are irresponsible with them. It’s your weapon, you are totally responsible for it, step up and take that responsibility instead of blaming everyone else. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-gun-control-useful-or-annoying/937464.md?page=1)