Gun store owner Andy Raymond gained passing fame last year for posting an Internet video about his abortive attempt to sell so-called smart guns, a type of digitally equipped firearms designed to thwart unauthorized users. As punishment for offering smart guns, he explained in the video, some of his detractors threatened to kill him and burn down his store in Rockville, Md. "That's a great thing for gun rights, when you threaten to shoot somebody," Raymond said.
Many Second Amendment advocates view smart guns as a step toward draconian restrictions on firearm ownership. Raymond, a passionate gun advocate, wasn't willing to risk his life for a few sales and decided to strip his shelves of smart guns. Fearing similar pushback, if not necessarily death threats, other retailers have likewise steered clear of smart guns. No major U.S. arms manufacturers are offering the weapons.
