Taurus User Recognition

[Guntalk]

Bob Morrison, C.E.O. of Taurus, will be a guest on Gun Talk radio show Sunday (tomorrow) at 4:05pm Eastern time. You can listen on the web. www.guntalk.com

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http://www.taurususa.com/whatsnew/pr1103.cfm

AUTHORIZED USER FIREARM PARTNERSHIP

Miami, Florida, 25 November, 2003

In a startling announcement today, Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc, stated they have formed a trilateral partnership to fast track the revolutionary development of firearms that electronically recognize pre-authorized individual users.

The partnership has been formed to address the long sought response to the quest for a firearm that will instantly and reliably recognize authorized operators of the equipment. The new handgun will use the patented Dynamic Grip Recognition biometry authorizing technology owned by the New Jersey Institute of Technology. This combined with the patented handgun Electronic Firing System owned by Metal Storm, Ltd. will be developed into a total handgun package by Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc.

The new handgun will incorporate the Metal Storm O’Dwyer VLe Technology in a platform to be built and integrated by Taurus with the NJIT proven Dynamic Grip Recognition biometry. Recognizing the specific grip exerted by various individuals, the NJIT system will allow each firearm to be programmed so that pre-authorized users will be able to instantly operate the firearm.

The O’Dwyer VLe system is a completely new and unique approach to firing projectiles. Entirely electronic, the system utilizes precharged barrels holding multiple projectiles that are fired by electronic ignition.

Taurus will provide the platform that integrates the NJIT and Metal Storm technologies into a firearm that is a pistol using on board electronics to recognize the operator and to fire the projectile while using a minimum of moving parts.


“Having the opportunity to partner Taurus firearms advanced engineering with the New Jersey Institute of Technology and Metal Storm, Ltd, presents the firearms world with a combined wealth of forward seeing science that will likely revolutionize ballistics, solid state technology and specific user identification,†said Robert G. Morrison, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc. Each partner has individually developed methodology that combined will provide an extraordinary shooting system that will forever change the course of firearms technology both in scope and flexibility.â€

Recognizing the growing trend in some states mandating only the sale of user identifying handguns Taurus is striving to make firearms that will be allowed for purchase in these areas. Even so, Taurus will continue to produce its regular line of mechanically operated and secured firearms for the foreseeable future.

In addition, Taurus will expand its efforts in the military, police and homeland security markets with this revolutionary firearms technology.

Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc. is a Florida Corporation that imports and distributes firearms manufactured by Forjas Taurus, in Brazil, as well as manufacturing firearms in their Miami facility. Taurus has led the industry in both technical innovation and firearms safety and security. In the area of innovation, Taurus was dominant with the introduction of forged Total Titanium handguns. Taurus introduced the Taurus Security System in 1996, the first integral locking device on production handguns.

Metal Storm, Ltd., develops electronically fired weaponry suitable for use by military and police world wide.

The New Jersey Institute of Technology is a world leader in the development of biometric devices and technology.

For more information on Metal Storm, visit www.metalstorm.com.

For more information on NJIT, visit www.njit.edu.
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[Kamicosmos]

Is this a joke?

In keeping with the hopes that it's a joke:

will they be porting these guns to handle the recoil of these electronically fired, potentially caseless rounds?

On a more serious note:
How sensitive will this grip measuring thing be? If the owner is oh...say trying to shoot with his/hers weak hand, the grip will not be the same. This also means that particular gun can never be used by anyone else, either a friend at the range, a child in training, or a spouse in a SD situation.

Also, what if the owner is wounded, and can't squeeze the grip the same? The gun won't work, and the BG gets a free kill?

I sure hope this is some kind of Turkey Day joke. I don't own a Taurus yet....and I may never if they go with something like this...

 

[Waitone]

Strike another one from the list.

 

[10mmshooter]

This is a sickening idea! It's just one more firearms manufacturer that is caving to the gun-grabbers, and is one step closer to trying to take our guns. A device such as this one would put the "authorizied user" in grave danger if attempting to use such a weapon for self defense purposes,in which "grip pressure" may vary greatly depending on the individual circumstances.
As for ever mandating people to install such a device on weapons that they already own in order to comply with some further restriction on peoples' rights.....I am a former law enforcement officer, and do my very best to be a law abiding citizen....but one must draw the line somewhere....If you want to alter/deface, or sieze my weapons that I have spent years collecting and thousands of dollars to aquire....you know where I live...Come and get em'!.......I'm not surrounded, ...I'm in a target rich environment!!!

 

[Black Snowman]

"Smart guns" are anything but. I'm half suprised Ruger didn't beat them to the contract but Taurus probably under-bid them.

Everything to go wrong with one of these nightmares. I bet they never get a single civilian sale and that any police force that adopts them figures out how to disable the damn "biometrics" and makes sure they have a BUG that actually does what it's told.

 

[Waitone]

NJ's legislation enabling biometric firearms specifically exempts LE from using the products. It also shields the legislature from lawsuits generated by failure of the technology.

The "Right Kind of People" protected themselves. Joe and Martha Sixpack are guinea pigs.

I'll bet a fine steak dinner at the Waffle House that NJ's governor's security will not be using the technology.

Sickening to the extreme.

 

[Snowdog]

Who cares?
Who cares what Taurus does, so long as they continue to sell mechanical firearms without any form of incorporated "user-specific" technology.

Perhaps I'm not pessimistic or paranoid enough for my own good, but I don't see this as a turn-coat maneuver, but simply a corporation vying for a potential market. Once they see it's not too hot on the civilian market, they'll keep the marketing limited to the military and police sector.

I simply cannot fathom why some are getting seriously bent over this.
You would think Taurus just announced they would stop civilian sales or something.

Recognizing the growing trend in some states mandating only the sale of user identifying handguns Taurus is striving to make firearms that will be allowed for purchase in these areas. Even so, Taurus will continue to produce its regular line of mechanically operated and secured firearms for the foreseeable future.

See, it's all about money, not politics.
Let's just all take off our foil hats just long enough to drink a beer or two.

 

[Triad]

I simply cannot fathom why some are getting seriously bent over this.

I can help you understand. You must first move to New Jersey. Then wait three years after this thing goes on the market. Then try to buy a handgun that doesn't have this "feature".

 

[Jason Demond]

In a startling announcement today, Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc, stated they have formed a trilateral partnership to fast track the revolutionary development of firearms that electronically recognize pre-authorized individual users.

I for one, will not buy a smart gun! If Taurus really goes through with this, they can get bent. I hope they don't think Gun Owners want this.

 

[Snowdog]

I can help you understand. You must first move to New Jersey.

Move... to New Jersey?

Naw Triad, I don't think you can help me much.

I see where you're coming from though. I just see some reactions as a bit extreme. I believe Taurus is somewhat savvy of the consumer in which they market to, so I believe they have a pretty good idea the civilian consumer (en bloc) has absolutely no intentions of buying any product with smart-gun technology.

The only threat comes when they produce something that's actually tangible and some wackos attempt to pass legislation to have it incorporated into all firearms made thereafter. However, I don't see this having much chance unless we fail to do our civic duty during elections and support of pro-gun organizations. Perhaps I'm just too complacent, but I refuse to stress out over this announcement.

 

[Guntalk]

Taurus has given away a bunch of NRA memberships, and the C.E.O. (Bob Morrison) is as staunchly pro-gun and pro-Second Amendment as anyone I know.

He is a serious shooter and knowledgeable gun guy.

That's what makes this interesting to me. I'll have a bunch of questions for Bob tomorrow when he's on the radio show.

Oh, before folks get all worked up about Taurus, understand that ALL handgun makers have something like this in the plans -- either short term or long term.

I want to hear more about the decision, the technology, the company plans, and how committed they are to producing mechanical guns.

If you have questions, you can always call the show at 4:10pm Eastern on Sunday. 1-866-TALK-GUNS. You can ask the man directly.

 

[Tamara]

Oh, yeah, grip biometrics identification is a frickin' fantastic idea for military small arms.

What was one of the first injuries suffered by a Task Force Ranger troop in Mogadishu? Class? Anyone? That's right; he got his finger blown off. Anyone thinks that might've altered the ol' grip biometrics any?

You think these kind of guns would work well after spending the night half-submerged in ice at the bottom of a foxhole when the troop has to kick his bolt handle to the rear to charge the weapon in the morning?

Whoever is coming up with these things should be sentenced to a couple of nights trying to defend themselves from polar bears up on Hudson Bay in January with their goofy biometric recognition guns.

While wearing snowmobile gloves...


"Hey Johnson on the SAW got hit and the gun won't recognize anybody's fingerprint but his!!!"

 

[George Hill]

So much for weak hand shooting drills.
Too many Smart Gun programs use Stupid Designers.

But this doesn't mean smart gun technology should be avoided all together. I think such a thing, a working practical approach for say police, would be a boon. Several officers are shot every year with their own guns.
Biometrics, fingerprints, magic rings of power... there has got to be a better way.
For soldiers?
You have got to be kidding me.
NO BATTERIES FOR BATTLEFIELD GUNS!
:banghead:
Red dot sights are one thing... but when that battery is required to actually fire the weapon - NO FREAKING WAY.

 

[BLiTzNicK]

I think we're overlooking the obvious here: Taurus has enough trouble getting a traditional firearm to function properly. God help them if they make it any more complex.

 

[Watchman]

I see it as natural progression.

Its about time that someone has come up with something different. I mean firearms have been basically the same since the cartridges made muzzle loading firearms obsolete.

I dont see it as a plot, I see it as technological advance. Lets face it folks
gun design in the last 50 years has been pretty stagnant. What if they had kept the same pace as computers ?

It'll take awhile to get the stuff right, but you have to start somewhere.

50 years from now when the technowizards have a pretty reliable product that works, people will wonder how in the hack we ever made due with the mechanical stuff. Of course ANY time you rely on electronics, it becomes succeptable to EMP.

If that happens, it'll make my mechanical guns look pretty danged good.

 

[PrudentGT]

I'm with WaitOne, no Tauri for me. Whether or not *all* manufacturers have groups working on 'easily disabled' guns, at least the others don't advertise the fact. I can't support a company that actively takes part in a process that will so clearly result in effectively disarming the people.

As for watchman's comments, I'm still waitng for my caseless rifle (and it's gotta use percussion primers!) Once I've got that in my hot little hands we can discuss adding gee-whiz electro-doodads...

 

[buttrap]

Well as the biggest gun maker in the free world its probably a good idea for them to make the guns that are mandated by the silly laws in some states...its not Taurus but the idiots that are elected by stupid people.

 

[chaim]

I am not happy with that news. Colt working on it, big deal- they move slower than a snail on pot. Taurus, they actually get some technological innovations done.

NJ's legislation enabling biometric firearms specifically exempts LE from using the products.

I'm pretty sure MD does the same.

Who cares?
Who cares what Taurus does, so long as they continue to sell mechanical firearms without any form of incorporated "user-specific" technology.

Who cares?! Fine for you to say. Those saying that here, would you be OK with S&W even the next day after signing "the agreement" if the agreement only affected a few states (and not yours)? Certainly not! Any maker who works on "smart guns" with the law in MD and NJ mandating these as the only legal guns once one model becomes available is doing the equivelent to signing the S&W agreement but only in a few states (though possibly worse since under the agreement working, reliable guns would still be around, and with the smart guns, at least at first, many innocent civilians are going to be killed when they try to use their gun for SD and it doesn't work).

If this is for real I will have to rethink whether I can buy another Taurus.

 

[otomik]

a smartgun that uses caseless ammo, or "phantom" ammo as the anti's like to call it: http://www.vpc.org/press/9307case.htm (just look at how they quote their own study in all caps "PHANTOM", they really want to press to latch on to it)

just imagine it, the only handgun still legal to buy and the next thing you the anti's will use the press to scare the ignorant masses so that the ammo for it will be outlawed.

this might be a good time to stock up on ammo for every handgun you own.

 

[chaim]

a smartgun that uses caseless ammo, or "phantom" ammo as the anti's like to call it: http://www.vpc.org/press/9307case.htm (just look at how they quote their own study in all caps "PHANTOM", they really want to press to latch on to it)

just imagine it, the only handgun still legal to buy and the next thing you the anti's will use the press to scare the ignorant masses

I hadn't even thought about that angle. If that gun becomes reality in MD in the next few years it will be a really interesting situation.

We have one law that says that once there is viable smart gun technology available (essentially once there is one commercial model in production) then all guns sold in MD must be smart guns.

We have another law that requires guns to be provided with a factory supplied fired casing to be legal for sale in MD (the ballistic fingerprinting law).

So what we'd have here is one law (the smart gun law) mandating smart guns only once this technology was there yet another law (the ballistic fingerprinting law) that would ban the only gun out that would fit the first law. As of yet there is no requirement that the smart gun be legal in MD through our other laws, only that it be available technology. This could get even worse than I was thinking.

 

[Tomac]

What's to keep them from incorporating a hidden "kill switch" in the biometric circuitry allowing the police (or anyone else who knows about it) to disable the firearm via a remote signal?
Tomac

 

[Tamara]

Boy, you guys in MD are tough to please.

Once smart guns hit the market, if Taurus didn't make them you'd be yelling "Taurus has abandoned its loyal customers in MD and NJ!", whereas if they're the first company to release "smart guns", then they trigger the ban and earn your ire that way. What you're saying is that you want them to be the second company on the market with a "smart gun," right?

 

[Highland Ranger]

Add another to the list . . . .

and if it can happen here, it can happen wherever you are too!

 

[Tamara]

and if it can happen here, it can happen wherever you are too!

It got voted down by a laughably huge margin in our state legislature. Heck, the most recent gun bill to pass in our state legislature was to loosen restrictions on CCW permits so that you could carry where alcohol was sold for off-premises consumption. Bars & schools are next.

 

[Watchman]

Heck, the most recent gun bill to pass in our state legislature was to loosen restrictions on CCW permits so that you could carry where alcohol was sold for off-premises consumption


We've already done that here in Arkansas. Now you can legally tote in all the good resturaunts...not that anybody didnt do that anyways...

Cant do the bars, cant do the schools. I dont think you'll ever see the restrictions on schools looseining up, the are too many pinko communist liberal school administrators that would prefer them to remain target rich environments.

:banghead: