This week, smart gun company Tracking Point has returned to the marketplace, once again fulfilling back orders and accepting new orders for their self-aiming rifle. The smart  gun integrates a sophisticated computer into a rifle that allows users to hit their mark every time through a high tech scope that knows when a target is aligned for the perfect shot.

Although the company has returned with a much smaller team, their primary focus will remain on the military and law enforcement markets.

The rifle has been criticized for its ability to connect to wifi, and was hacked earlier this year by a couple who was able to adjust the aim of the rifle from a nearby laptop. While Tracking Point is a model example of how technology can integrate into firearms in ways that improve the shooting experience, its vulnerability also poses a potential problem for gun owner safety.

The Smart Tech Challenges Foundation supports 15 innovators each developing unique smart gun solutions—none of which include a connection to wifi. Our innovators are concerned with protecting both users’ safety and their gun rights. They are working hard to develop life saving products that do not open the door to infringement of those rights.  The RFID, fingerprint, and mechanical solutions that are part of the Smart Tech for Firearms Challenge do not communicate with any computer or system outside of the firearm itself. They are user-autheication technologies which means their security is personalized to the user(s).

As consumers grow increasingly sophisticated about accessories and features on their firearms, we hope that companies like Tracking Point can lead the way for the industry, continuing to improve and become increasingly reliable.