I keep a close eye on the important local and global political, cultural and social issues. One of the social issues I am concerned about is the unusually high rate of gun violence in America as compared to other industrialized nations such as Scandinavian countries, U.K., Australia, Japan and Canada. Ideally, I would like America to go as far as Australia to curb gun violence, but I realize that may not be possible in America. In order to devise an effective solution to a problem, it is important to take into account the concerns of all potential stakeholders. I have read a fair amount of background material to understand the concerns of gun control opponents, and I suggest the widespread adoption of smart guns in America.
The supporters of the gun control issue argue it is too easy to buy guns in America and even individuals with criminal record or mental health issues have easy access to guns. The opponents of the gun control issue argue the Second Amendment explicitly gives them the right to own guns, and any attempts at gun control are direct violation of the U.S. Constitution. The opponents also claim most gun control owners are responsible.

As I consider the arguments by both sides, the primary objective is to reduce gun violence while also protecting the right to bear arms guaranteed under the Second Amendment. Fortunately, we live in an exciting era of unprecedented technological advancements and I see smart guns as the best solution to the gun control issue. The smart guns may be equipped with sensors and chips which mean they would only be usable by the individuals to whom they have been registered. Thus, smart guns may turn out to be far more effective at reducing gun violence as opposed to alternative solutions such as politically divisive resolutions. The value of the smart guns is even higher when we consider the fact that many mass shootings were carried by the individuals who gained illegal access to the guns.

The greatest strength of this proposal is that it will allow responsible Americans to continue to exercise their right to bear arms, while also resolving the concerns of gun control supporters regarding wide scale unauthorized access to weapons. The U.S. Government should take the lead in popularizing smart guns and may even run programs under which Americans could exchange their rifles for smart guns.

The technology has revolutionized almost every aspect of our society and it is safe to argue the gun industry will also be shaped by the technological advancements such as sensor-equipped guns. It is not a question of whether smart guns may be embraced but when. Fortunately, smart guns have the potential to offer a reasonable solution to the issue that has long divided Americans. The potential of the smart guns in reducing the gun violence has not gone unnoticed by the policymakers as well. In fact, President Obama has issued orders to investigate the potential of the smart guns in improving the national security infrastructure.

Utilizing the advancements in technology to reduce the gun violence would not be the first solution of its kind. The latest technologies are already being deployed to tackle other social issues such as the poverty and basic healthcare. This also reminds me of the philosophies of some of the leading personalities of our times such as Bill Gates who believe technological advancements hold great promise towards solving major economic and social issues. I hope the smart guns will help strengthen the working relationship between the supporters and critics of the gun control issue.