Smart Guns: Lifesavers or 2nd Amendment Violators?

Real Life Vigilante Kai Kloepfer Hopes to End Gun Control Debate With His Invention

Kai Kloepfer, an 18-year-old from Boulder, Colorado, invented the “smart gun” which uses fingerprint recognition technology to lock and unlock the firing mechanisms on firearms. For his discovery, he won the grand prize at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair, and a $50,000 grant from the Smart Tech Challenges Foundation.

Kloepfer was inspired to take on the challenge of creating safer weapons when the Aurora, Colorado mass shooting occurred in his home state in July 2012 and left 12 dead when a gunman opened fire in a packed movie theatre. He has no training or degree in engineering, but was able to create the “smart gun” by Googling information on biotechnology and fingerprint scanners.

Now, the young innovator has just launched his own crowdfunding campaign via Indiegogo to “fund development of a ‘smart gun’ - a fully-functional live firearm with integrated fingerprint sensor.”

According to his press release, “[w]ith the funds raised from the campaign, Kai will commission a team of engineers from VisionWorks Engineering in San Diego, California to advance his current prototype to the stage where it can be mass-produced. View the campaign video here. View high quality images of Kai and his smart gun design and prototype here.”

Kloepfer’s hope is to “prevent accidental shootings, thefts, suicides and wrongful use” associated with firearms. Watch Kai’s interview with Jesse Ventura on his “smart gun” innovation and their discussion on the Second Amendment rights implications of modifying firearms with this technology.

Then, take a look at Kloepfer’s Indiegogo campaign here. We at Off The Grid think Kai is a Real Life Vigilante who exemplifies what the Governor means by “stay vigilant!”

- Vigilant Producer Alex Logan

What do you think of Kai's invention? Sound off below!

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Written by

Alex Logan

As cohost of the political commentary series, Jesse Ventura's Off the Grid, Alex Logan is The Body's body man. Alex and the former governor, action star, wrestler, and everything else in between, tackle the headlines of the week with an uncensored and independent spirit as we hold the two parties' feet to the fire. A deserter of Dayton, Ohio, Alex graduated from the University of Southern California Film School with a degree in Writing for Screen and TV. Alex has assisted in the booking of live acts for the Creative Artists Agency; written jokes, sketches and stunts for MTV and producer Johnny Knoxville; developed treatments and scripts for Anonymous Content and Mark Gordon Productions; and co-founded the Improv Olympic West’s headliner sketch group, The Mutiny, who play sold out shows around LA and at the Chicago and San Francisco Sketch Fests, as well as producing numerous videos for the front pages of YouTube, College Humor, and Funny Or Die. He did a stint as Editor and Technical Producer on Larry King’s Hulu talk show before partnering with Larry and Jesse to co-create Off the Grid. In the first season, Alex co-headed the entire production, writing, producing, and cohosting over 150 episodes. And he's back for Season Two, now serving as producer and host of a series of Man on the Street field pieces called, On the Grid. He also wrote this professional bio with his own two hands.

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of Ora Media, LLC its affiliates, or its employees.