Chicago State University Dean Heads to Washington to Promote Cutting-Edge Gun Control Technology

CHICAGO, IL - As the debate over gun control heats up in Washington, Chicago State University Associate Dean of Health Sciences Dr. Damon T. Arnold is taking his "outside-the-box" approach to the nation's capital this week in hopes of advancing his idea to use cutting edge technology that would truly make schools and other areas "gun free zones."

"While the conventional debates over gun control continues to produce little more than political gridlock, I feel it's important to consider different, science-based approaches that would have an immediate impact in terms of preventing tragedies such as the one that happened at Sandy Hook Elementary," Dr. Arnold said. "By incorporating technological elements such as radio frequency identification devices into any new gun manufactured in the U.S., as well as retrofitting existing firearms, we could realistically create a monitoring system that protects schools and other 'gun-free zones' while not infringing on the rights of law-abiding gun owners."

Dr. Arnold, who is also a retired Colonel, met in Washington at the Institute of Medicine staff this week to promote his idea to equip guns with radio frequency identification devices (RFID) transforming a normal hand gun into a "smart gun". Among the many potential benefits of RFID equipped guns would be the ability for law enforcement to be immediately alerted if someone attempts to carry a gun into nurseries, movie theaters, work places, schools, faith-based institutions or other designated areas. The technology would also help create a safer environment for legal gun owners, who could be made immediately aware if their safely stored gun has been removed by a thief, a child or anyone else that should not have control of a firearm.

"From Aurora to Sandy Hook to the South Side of Chicago, it is clear that our current efforts to prevent gun violence are not enough and we need to approach this vast problem with creative solutions," Dr. Arnold added.