By Warner Todd Huston ——Bio and Archives--September 12, 2011
Guns-Crime-Terror-Security | CFP Comments | Reader Friendly | Subscribe | Email Us
Which leads me to wonder how much in sales will this end up costing them? While there may be several advantages to this new technology, as it applies to Chiappa’s manufacturing process, I can’t help but wonder how people will abuse it. Tech savvy criminals have already found out how to exploit the RFID chips that are in new credit cards, what’s to stop them from exploiting this new application too? Unfortunately, the realist in me realizes that anything the Brady Bunch (Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence) or Mayors Against Illegal Guns would like raises the hair on the back of my neck for a good reason.The Orlando Gun Lawyer is equally skeptical that the chips won’t be used to track individual gun owners. “It’s Italian government mandated, and while they claim “big brother” is not currently electronically monitoring your firearm — you’d better remove the sucker before they do,” he writes. The Firearms Blog is also worried that the chips are not just passive devices but can be read “at long ranges.” Not to be outdone, dozens of gun-themed message boards are enflamed with the topic. The U.S. distributor of Chiappa firearms has not helped the situation by issuing a press release that essentially calls potential American customers idiots for worrying about the RFID tags. Check out the disdain and disrespect that MKS Distributing has shown for its own customers:
Recently there has been some blogger activity concerning Chiappa Firearms putting a RFID (radio frequency identification) in Chiappa Firearms. Yes, but Chiappa will not be using the RFID system for at least a year. RUMOR: The erroneous information about some sort of “chip” was put out by a blogger who translated Chiappa (Italian) technical information incorrectly. The incorrect translation and his interpretation came out as some sort of a GPS type tracking “chip” -which RFID isn’t as it cannot transmit anything-it has NO power source (unlike cell phones). THE FACTS: Recently several Italian gun makers (not just Chiappa) decided to utilize RFID technology to improve manufacturing and provide more accurate inventory control. We guarantee this technology will proliferate to other gun makers world wide as it is so efficient for everything from production QC control to export/import varification. Other industries already use passive RFID technology such as on DVDs, sunglasses, clothes and even some food products for example. Basically Chiappa RFID (again it is radio frequency identification) assists the manufacturing process, inventory control and shipping. The type of information on the RFID ties in the firearm and proof house verification; the latter is required by the Italian Government for all firearms made in Italy. Passive RFID is also a final check that verifies that what is inside the sealed box is the same thing as shown on the box exterior bar code during shipping. Now, it will no longer be necessary to open/inspect hundreds of boxes by hand prior to packing in export containers. BOTTOM LINE: The Chiappa PASSIVE RFID can be read ONLY when passed within (2-3 inches) of an active (and powered) reader that is dialed in for the particular long antenna radio frequency of the RFID-this is not random. And it will NOT go into operation for a year or more. SUMMARIZING: RFIDs have NO power source or GPS locator. Rest assured they are NOT transmitting your identification and location information to a Chiappa Firearm tasked CIA satellite. RFID Removal: For those still concerned you can simply remove the grip and remove the hot glued RFID from the frame in the grip area when (over a year from now) these begin to appear. Others may prefer to wrap the revolver and their head in aluminum foil, curl in a ball and watch reruns of Mel Gibson’s 1997 film, Conspiracy Theory. Well, that’s a plan too!Sheese. Telling customers to “wrap their head in aluminum foil” is not the best way to engender customer loyalty, is it? In any case, what we have here is a clash between technology and privacy concerns — not to mention Constitutional rights — a clash that won’t be easily solved by a snarky press release and bland denouncements from government mandated programs.
View Comments
Warner Todd Huston’s thoughtful commentary, sometimes irreverent often historically based, is featured on many websites such as Breitbart.com, among many, many others. He has also written for several history magazines, has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows.
He is also the owner and operator of Publius’ Forum.