81 FR 719 - Promoting Smart Gun Technology

Executive Office of the President

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 4 (January 7, 2016)

Page Range		719-720
FR Document		2016-00198

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 4 (Thursday, January 7, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 4 (Thursday, January 7, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 719-720]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00198]




                        Presidential Documents 



Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 4 / Thursday, January 7, 2016 / 
Presidential Documents

___________________________________________________________________

Title 3--
The President

[[Page 719]]

                Memorandum of January 4, 2016

                
Promoting Smart Gun Technology

                Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense[,] the Attorney 
                General[, and] the Secretary of Homeland Security

                For more than 20 years, the Federal Government has 
                worked to keep guns out of the wrong hands through 
                background checks. This critical effort in addressing 
                gun violence has prevented more than two million 
                prohibited firearms purchases from being completed. But 
                tens of thousands of people are still injured or killed 
                by firearms every year--in many cases by guns that were 
                sold legally but then stolen, misused, or discharged 
                accidentally. Developing and promoting technology that 
                would help prevent these tragedies is an urgent 
                priority.

                In 2013, I directed the Department of Justice to review 
                the availability and most effective use of new gun 
                safety technologies, such as devices requiring a scan 
                of the owner's fingerprint before a gun can fire. In 
                its report, the Department made clear that 
                technological advancements in this area could help 
                reduce accidental deaths and the use of stolen guns in 
                criminal activities.

                Millions of dollars have already been invested to 
                support research into a broad range of concepts for 
                improving gun safety. We must all do our part to 
                continue to advance this research and encourage its 
                practical application, and it is possible to do so in a 
                way that makes the public safer and is consistent with 
                the Second Amendment. The Federal Government has a 
                unique opportunity to do so, as it is the single 
                largest purchaser of firearms in the country. 
                Therefore, by the authority vested in me as President 
                by the Constitution and the laws of the United States 
                of America, I hereby direct the following:

                Section 1. Research and Development. The Department of 
                Defense, the Department of Justice, and the Department 
                of Homeland Security (departments) shall, to the extent 
                practicable and permitted by law, conduct or sponsor 
                research into gun safety technology that would reduce 
                the frequency of accidental discharge or unauthorized 
                use of firearms, and improve the tracing of lost or 
                stolen guns. Not later than 90 days after the date of 
                this memorandum, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney 
                General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
                prepare jointly a report outlining a research and 
                development strategy designed to expedite the real-
                world deployment of such technology for use in 
                practice.

                Sec. 2. Department Consideration of New Technology. The 
                departments shall, to the extent permitted by law, 
                regularly (a) review the availability of the technology 
                described in section 1, and (b) explore potential ways 
                to further its use and development to more broadly 
                improve gun safety. In connection with these efforts, 
                the departments shall consult with other agencies that 
                acquire firearms and take appropriate steps to consider 
                whether including such technology in specifications for 
                acquisition of firearms would be consistent with 
                operational needs.

                Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this 
                memorandum shall be construed to impair or otherwise 
                affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the head 
thereof; or

[[Page 720]]

(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

                    (b) This memorandum shall be implemented consistent 
                with applicable law and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.
                    (c) This memorandum is not intended to, and does 
                not, create any right or benefit, substantive or 
                procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any 
                party against the United States, its departments, 
                agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or 
                agents, or any other person.

                Sec. 4. Publication. The Attorney General is hereby 
                authorized and directed to publish this memorandum in 
                the Federal Register.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

                THE WHITE HOUSE,

                    Washington, January 4, 2016

[FR Doc. 2016-00198
Filed 1-6-16; 8:45 am]
Billing code 4410-19-P

$719 Federal Register Presidential Documents Vol. 81, No. 4 Thursday, January 7, 2016 Title 3— Memorandum of January 4, 2016 The President Promoting Smart Gun Technology Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense[,] the Attorney General[, and] the Secretary of Homeland Security For more than 20 years, the Federal Government has worked to keep guns out of the wrong hands through background checks. This critical effort in addressing gun violence has prevented more than two million prohibited firearms purchases from being completed. But tens of thousands of people are still injured or killed by firearms every year—in many cases by guns that were sold legally but then stolen, misused, or discharged accidentally. Developing and promoting technology that would help prevent these trage- dies is an urgent priority. In 2013, I directed the Department of Justice to review the availability and most effective use of new gun safety technologies, such as devices requiring a scan of the owner’s fingerprint before a gun can fire. In its report, the Department made clear that technological advancements in this area could help reduce accidental deaths and the use of stolen guns in criminal activities. Millions of dollars have already been invested to support research into a broad range of concepts for improving gun safety. We must all do our part to continue to advance this research and encourage its practical applica- tion, and it is possible to do so in a way that makes the public safer and is consistent with the Second Amendment. The Federal Government has a unique opportunity to do so, as it is the single largest purchaser of firearms in the country. Therefore, by the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct the following: Section 1. Research and Development. The Department of Defense, the De- partment of Justice, and the Department of Homeland Security (departments) shall, to the extent practicable and permitted by law, conduct or sponsor research into gun safety technology that would reduce the frequency of accidental discharge or unauthorized use of firearms, and improve the tracing of lost or stolen guns. Not later than 90 days after the date of this memo- randum, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall prepare jointly a report outlining a research and development strategy designed to expedite the real-world deployment of such technology for use in practice. Sec. 2. Department Consideration of New Technology. The departments shall, to the extent permitted by law, regularly (a) review the availability of the technology described in section 1, and (b) explore potential ways to further its use and development to more broadly improve gun safety. In connection with these efforts, the departments shall consult with other agencies that acquire firearms and take appropriate steps to consider whether including such technology in specifications for acquisition of firearms would be con- mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with O0 sistent with operational needs. Sec. 3. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this memorandum shall be con- strued to impair or otherwise affect: (i) the authority granted by law to a department or agency, or the head thereof; or VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:25 Jan 06, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4705 Sfmt 4790 E:\FR\FM\07JAO0.SGM 07JAO0$

Document Created: 2016-01-07 00:13:22
Document Modified: 2016-01-07 00:13:22

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Presidential Documents
FR Citation		81 FR 719