The United States is one of the most prominent investors in firearms technology. The country spends 10% of its federal spending on defense, which accounts for more than $800 billion. That’s higher than the GDP of all but 19 countries. Some of this money goes into researching and developing new firearm technologies. Here are five areas where the United States is making significant investments.
3D Printing
Printing guns are now possible, even in the comfort of your home. 3D printing is a manufacturing process that creates three-dimensional objects from a digital file. It’s also known as additive manufacturing. 3D printing has been used to create everything from eyeglasses to prosthetic limbs.
Now, 3D printing is being used to create firearms. In 2013, Cody Wilson, the founder of Defense Distributed, created the world’s first 3D-printed gun, called the Liberator. The weapon was made from plastic and could fire up to 600 rounds before it needed to be replaced.
Since then, the use of 3D-printed guns has been controversial. Some people believe that 3D-printed guns are a way to circumvent gun control laws. Others believe that 3D-printed guns are dangerous because they’re made from plastic and can easily be concealed.
Interestingly enough, in 2016, the United States government ruled restricting the distribution of 3D-printed gun files. But Wilson continues to fight for the right to distribute his files. He believes everyone should have the right to bear arms, regardless of gun laws. Experts think it’ll only be a matter of time before 3D-printed guns are back on the market.
If there is one thing everyone can agree on is that future manufacturers of these 3D-printed guns (especially gun stores) should start ramping their insurance policies.
First-off, 3D-printed guns are prone to misfires. It can lead to users suing gun stores because of a faulty product. An excellent gun shop CLG policy can help cover the costs associated with these lawsuits. Secondly, the gun store could be held liable if someone were to use a 3D-printed gun in a crime. That’s why it’s essential for gun stores to have insurance that covers them if one of their products is used in a crime.
Directed Energy Weapons
DEWs are weapons that emit energy in an aimed direction without the means of a projectile. It seems like something from a sci-fi movie, but it’s now coming to life.
The United States military has been researching and testing DEWs for years. In 2010, the U.S. Air Force tested a DEW called the Active Denial System (ADS). The ADS is a non-lethal weapon that uses microwaves to heat the skin of its target, causing severe pain. The goal is to make the target feel like they’re on fire without causing any burns.
In 2014, the Navy successfully tested a laser weapon called the Laser Weapon System (LaWS). The LaWS is designed to be used against small boats and drones. It works by using a chemical laser to create an invisible beam of energy. The beam hitting its target causes the object to overheat and catch fire.
The United States is not the only country researching DEWs. For example, Russia has been working on a DEW called the Peresvet Laser Weapon System. The Peresvet is designed against missiles, aircraft, and drones. It’s unclear how far along Russia is with this weapon, but it’s believed to be operational.
Smart Guns
Think of a gun that can think for itself. That’s what a smart gun can do. A smart gun is a firearm that an authorized user can only fire. The technology behind smart guns has been around for years. In the early 2000s, Smith & Wesson developed a weapon that used a fingerprint sensor to unlock the trigger. But the company never released the firearm because of concerns about its reliability.
In 2016, German firearms manufacturer Armatix released a 9mm pistol called the iP1. The iP1 is a smart gun that uses radio-frequency identification (RFID) to unlock the trigger. The firearm can only be fired by someone wearing an RFID chip on their wrist. If the chip is more than 10 inches away from the weapon, it will not fire.
The idea behind smart guns is to make them more challenging to be used by unauthorized people. The hope is that smart guns will make it harder for children to get ahold of guns and prevent mass shootings.
Although smart guns are a promising technology, they’re not without their critics. Some people believe that smart guns are too unreliable. They also worry that hackers could disable the gun’s safety features.
As you can see, several different technologies shape firearms in the United States. These technologies range from 3D-printed guns to directed energy weapons. Each of these technologies has its benefits and drawbacks. It will be interesting to see how they develop in the future.