Mayor Pushing for 'Smart Gun' Development

BUCKHEAD, GA -- Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed has signed off on a letter to gun manufacturers inquiring into the state of “smart gun” technologies, according to a report.

Reed and several other mayors across the country have signed their names on the letter, which wants to know if major gun manufacturers could begin producing weapons with biometric sensors that only fire when held by an authorized user, WSB-TV reports.

“Local, state and other governmental entities in the United States are conducting reviews of their firearms procurement practices to ensure that future purchases of firearms achieve the maximum benefit to taxpayers in terms of public safety,” the letter reads in part.

“As part of this process, these jurisdictions are requesting information from companies that produce firearms suitable for use by public-sector agencies.”

Apart from the inquiry into “smart gun” technology, the letter asks gun manufacturers to describe their standards and criteria for authorized dealers, its response when one of its weapons is determined to have been used in a crime, and whether the manufacturers would be interested in working with local governments and law enforcement agencies to set up networks of authorized dealers.

The full letter may be read here.