Drizzt
Member
The Scotsman Publications Ltd.
Scotland on Sunday
March 9, 2003, Sunday
SECTION: Pg. 31
LENGTH: 451 words
HEADLINE: INVENTOR AIMS AT SOUTH AFRICAN CRIME WAVE WITH GUN THAT TAKES ITS OWN PRINTS
BYLINE: Sahm Venter
BODY:
DO YOU feel lucky punk? This is an IFA, the most intelligent handgun in the world.
This is how Dirty Harry would have delivered his famous soliloquy had he been packing the latest innovation in firearms technology.
Motivated by the mounting death toll from shootings in his home country, South African businessman Nic Van Zyl has invented a new gun that can only be fired by its registered owner. Van Zyl's 'Intelligent Firearm' (IFA) uses a biometric sensor encoded with the thumbprint of its owner which prevents it being fired by anyone else.
As an additional safeguard, the firearm also contains a tiny camera which takes a photograph every time it is fired. And an electronic chip in the gun will contain a range of personal information about its registered owner.
In addition, the gun can only be fired when it is within close range of a special smart card issued to the owner.
Van Zyl said a steady stream of horror stories about people killed or injured when weapons fell into the wrong hands, moved him to invent a firearm.
The South African businessman said he was in advanced negotiations with a British company to buy the international production rights to his creation.
While the huge rate of violent crime in South Africa gave rise to his invention, Van Zyl believes it is needed around the world wherever guns are used.
"Firearms at the moment are causing so much havoc. It's so sad," he said. "Something has to be done. We can't stand by and watch the world take potshots at each other."
His invention has taken nearly 10 years to develop and now it is about to become a reality with the first private sales expected next year. According to Van Zyl, the British company, which he would not name, intends to manufacture a military version of the weapon.
"We are close to signing a deal," he said.
South Africa is awash with handguns that mostly start out as licensed, legal weapons which are lost or stolen.
Police who routinely carrying handguns are regularly robbed of them and private homes are often broken into for the express purpose of stealing guns. These weapons are then used in violent crimes. Children also get hold of their parents' weapons, often with tragic consequences.
Van Zyl said: "We can't change people, the only option remains to change the weapon. It does away with the temptation that a wrongdoer has to steal your firearm."
Interest had also been expressed, he said, by law enforcement and security organisations in the Far East and Europe, including the Metropolitan Police. "In the course of next year the weapons will be made available to selected outlets, particularly security firms."
Scotland on Sunday
March 9, 2003, Sunday
SECTION: Pg. 31
LENGTH: 451 words
HEADLINE: INVENTOR AIMS AT SOUTH AFRICAN CRIME WAVE WITH GUN THAT TAKES ITS OWN PRINTS
BYLINE: Sahm Venter
BODY:
DO YOU feel lucky punk? This is an IFA, the most intelligent handgun in the world.
This is how Dirty Harry would have delivered his famous soliloquy had he been packing the latest innovation in firearms technology.
Motivated by the mounting death toll from shootings in his home country, South African businessman Nic Van Zyl has invented a new gun that can only be fired by its registered owner. Van Zyl's 'Intelligent Firearm' (IFA) uses a biometric sensor encoded with the thumbprint of its owner which prevents it being fired by anyone else.
As an additional safeguard, the firearm also contains a tiny camera which takes a photograph every time it is fired. And an electronic chip in the gun will contain a range of personal information about its registered owner.
In addition, the gun can only be fired when it is within close range of a special smart card issued to the owner.
Van Zyl said a steady stream of horror stories about people killed or injured when weapons fell into the wrong hands, moved him to invent a firearm.
The South African businessman said he was in advanced negotiations with a British company to buy the international production rights to his creation.
While the huge rate of violent crime in South Africa gave rise to his invention, Van Zyl believes it is needed around the world wherever guns are used.
"Firearms at the moment are causing so much havoc. It's so sad," he said. "Something has to be done. We can't stand by and watch the world take potshots at each other."
His invention has taken nearly 10 years to develop and now it is about to become a reality with the first private sales expected next year. According to Van Zyl, the British company, which he would not name, intends to manufacture a military version of the weapon.
"We are close to signing a deal," he said.
South Africa is awash with handguns that mostly start out as licensed, legal weapons which are lost or stolen.
Police who routinely carrying handguns are regularly robbed of them and private homes are often broken into for the express purpose of stealing guns. These weapons are then used in violent crimes. Children also get hold of their parents' weapons, often with tragic consequences.
Van Zyl said: "We can't change people, the only option remains to change the weapon. It does away with the temptation that a wrongdoer has to steal your firearm."
Interest had also been expressed, he said, by law enforcement and security organisations in the Far East and Europe, including the Metropolitan Police. "In the course of next year the weapons will be made available to selected outlets, particularly security firms."
Does the gun photograph the shooter or the shootee? Seems to be rubbing salt in the wounds of all the LEOs that have lost their guns, if it is the shootee. Film at 11:00. South Africa could save more lives with zipper control. Seems they have a problem with sexually transmitted diseases.
