CHICAGO, Aug. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — TrackingPoint, a gun manufacturer in Austin, Texas, has developed—and is selling to the public—”smart scope” military-style sniper rifles that allow someone who has never fired a gun before to hit a target the size of a soup can from 1,000 yards away—that’s 10 football fields or over half a mile. Until now, only a few, elite, military-trained snipers could ever achieve this skill level.

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TrackingPoint’s rifles achieve this level of accuracy because their “smart scopes” include a computer that adjusts for key variables affecting a bullet’s trajectory – including range, target velocity, outside temperature, barrel temperature, wind speed and even the earth’s rotation – and indicate to shooters when they have a “kill shot.”

The scopes’ electronic guidance is enabled by TrackingPoint applications distributed by Apple and Google, which are featured in TrackingPoint’s promotional efforts. TrackingPoint continues to develop “smart” weapons and unveiled a prototype that allows a shooter, using Google Glass, to aim and fire around corners.

NO LEGITIMATE PURPOSE FOR CIVILIAN USE

Fineman believes hunters and target shooters have no need for TrackingPoint’s rifles because their accuracy eliminates the need for skill. And the rifles, designed to precisely hit a target at over half a mile away, have no use for self-defense, says Fineman, as one does not know they are at risk when the shooter is over half a mile away.

NGVAC believes that there are three groups who will buy these rifles—insurrectionists, terrorists and hate groups. Given the Sniper Rifle’s deadly accuracy, no one is safe—this cannot be allowed.

LETTERS SENT

On May 23, 2014 the National Gun Victims Action Council wrote to John Lupher, TrackingPoint’s CEO, concerning the threat to public safety posed by TrackingPoint’s rifles. The NGVAC called on TrackingPoint to immediately cease and desist from marketing and selling its rifles to civilians. TrackingPoint has not responded.

On June 5, 2014 and July 25, 2014, the NGVAC and its partners in this urgent appeal—The Newtown Victims & Clergy for Corporate Responsibility, Faiths United To Prevent Gun Violence, PICO National Network, United Physicians of Newtown, Newtown Action Alliance, and 100,000 Poets for Change—wrote to Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, and Larry Page, Google’s CEO, detailing our deep concerns about the dangers to public safety posed by TrackingPoint’s rifles.

We asked that they stop distributing the TrackingPoint application, which enables the rifles’ precision accuracy, and that they take steps to bar TrackingPoint from using their names in promotional efforts. We have received no response from either Apple or Google.

ACTION TO TAKE

TrackingPoint’s sniper rifles are a classic example of technology outpacing legislation. The weapons unquestionably pose a significant danger to public safety, and this danger will only grow as additional companies develop similar technology. Legislation will be required to effectively banish the threat posed by these weapons. To help stop this insanity, go to OPERATION SIDELINE at www.gunvictimsaction.org.

Elliot Fineman is CEO of the National Gun Victims Action Council, a non-profit network of 14 million gun victims, survivors, the faith community and ordinary people leveraging their buying power to change America’s gun laws. NGVAC initiated the successful action that caused Starbucks to change its gun policy. NGVAC pursues novel legal strategies to reduce gun violence and encourages corporations to be proactively involved in advocating for sane gun laws. NGVAC can be found at www.gunvictimsaction.org.