The Obama administration is developing guidelines for state and federal law enforcement to use "smart guns" that can only be fired by their owners, but the leading association for the firearms industry said the policy is being driven by "anti-gun interest groups."

The U.S. Department of Defense plans to implement a cash prize to manufacturers that develop guns that can only be fired when wielded by their owners, according to the technology news site Re/code. The Department of Justice also plans to take steps to promote the production of smart gun technology. http://on.recode.net/24xYq8V

In a statement, the National Shooting Sports Foundation said it had no problem with the technology, but opposes "ill-conceived government mandates" to compel the use of smart guns when there are many questions about their reliability.

"The announcement by the White House is driven by the agenda of anti-gun interest groups, not by the demands of the officers whose lives depend on reliable firearms to do their jobs," NSSF said. "Any step toward mandating that highly-trained federal law enforcement personnel carry firearms limited by the whim of unproven, unreliable technology makes their jobs more dangerous, and puts their lives and public safety at risk."

The association noted the Fraternal Order of Police also opposes any mandates requiring law enforcement officers to use the technology.

"If law enforcement officials desired ‘smart guns,' and they were reliable enough to be available on the market, they would already have them," NSSF said. http://bit.ly/1W9bYXc

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