Smart Guns: How Does the Armatix iP1 Work?

By now, just about everyone has heard the buzz about the new smart guns being marketed to curb gun violence. One German company, Armatix, is already selling the pistol in California.

Their smart gun, called the "iP1" is a .22 caliber handgun. The cost of the Armatix iP1, paired with the required iW1 wrist watch is approximately $1,500. While it is currently only available in .22 caliber, the company is expected to begin production of larger calibers in the near future.

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The iP1 works only when paired with an RFID imbedded wristwatch, preventing anyone else, other than the person wearing it, from discharging the firearm. In addition to that, the user must also enter a personal identification number into the watch and the watch and pistol must not be further than 15 inches apart for the gun to fire.

In theory, it almost sounds like a great idea. However, some may feel it's a liability if your life or the life of another ever needs defending. Anyone who has ever had any gun training, or shoots regularly knows that an attack can happen in just a matter of seconds.

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For example, if you are leaving the grocery store and walking to your car and an assailant charges you, it is highly unlikely that you will have the time to input your personal identification number to activate your smart gun so that you can defend yourself. At that point, your firearm will be useless in yourself defense.

The Armatix iP1 and the watch, the iW1 is a smart gun/RFID combo, which means it is a gun-shaped computer and computers are hacked constantly. Other issues individuals may encounter with the smart gun is forgetting the PIN numbers routinely and the batteries may also die.

Some law-abiding gun owners might not feel comfortable trusting their lives or the lives of their loved ones to a computer that is merely shaped to look like a gun.

This article does not constitute legal advice. Check the current gun laws before purchasing or traveling with a firearm.

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