Smart Guns and the reported “warm reception” by Ruger

Earlier this week, CBS New York reported of a “coalition” of local police departments, municipalities and clergy members who are pushing for a “form of gun control without legislation” by pressuring gun manufacturers to start utilizing controversial “smart” gun technology. The CBS report also claimed that this effort received a “warm reception” from Ruger, while other big companies like Glock and Beretta were apparently not open to the drastic changes. Many gun owners jumped on this “warm reception” on several gun forums, blogs and social media, blaming Ruger of welcoming a discussion on this technology. The way this was reported by CBS could suggest this, but the real story is quite the opposite.

Late last night, DRTV received the following comment from Mike Fifer, the CEO of Sturm, Ruger and Co.:

Our General Counsel met them inside our front entryway, said I was not present (I was actually out of the building at a meeting when they showed up), accepted their envelope addressed to me, said goodbye to them and that was the end of it. They left.

Perhaps “warm reception” is a relative description. While we disagree with their methods and specifics, there is little to be gained by being rude to them (which they might have preferred, given that they had Channel 3 news cameras with them). They also behaved well, did not make a fuss, and quietly left. It was a non-event, in spite of their goal of gaining publicity.
Best regards,
Mike Fifer