<span style="font-weight: 400">The mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, was tragic because it happened. Furthermore, it wasn’t the first mass shooting and certainly won’t be the last. The deadliest school shootings since Sandy Hook have all taken place within the United States. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t similar attacks occurring elsewhere in the world. Thankfully, blockchain technology may provide a solution to this problem. That's if we can find the political will to use it and put the necessary restrictions on its use to keep citizens safe while allowing law enforcement to perform their duties.</span>
<h2><b>Why We Need Blockchain-Based Gun Registry?</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400">Existing solutions require manual reporting of guns. However, blockchain technology allows owners to register their guns automatically. The technology creates a secure and digital ledger of ownership for each gun with two key benefits. First, using smart contracts, gun sellers would automatically know if they are selling to someone authorized to own a gun (and thus can purchase one).</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400">Second, law enforcement can check its blockchain history every time someone uses a gun in a crime or in an accident. This can provide them with a real-time view of its owner’s behavior. It can also reduce confusion over whether it was used in any crimes. It is possible to build a similar system for those seeking firearms training and those who want certification as safe or responsible owners. This will help reduce accidental shootings and keep guns out of dangerous hands.</span>
<h2><b>Why Can’t We Use Existing Public Databases?</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400">The answer, unfortunately, lies in our country’s history with gun control. <a href="https://www.atf.gov/rules-and-regulations/national-firearms-act">The National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934</a> made it compulsory for guns to have serial numbers. If they did not, they did not consider them to be legal firearms. As a result, there are millions of <a href="https://www.bradyunited.org/fact-sheets/what-are-ghost-guns">ghost guns</a> across America. These are weapons that crime organizations intentionally scratch off their serial numbers to avoid regulation by state and federal governments.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400">Therefore, for ghost guns, there is no way for law enforcement officials or gun control activists to trace them back to their owners. So if a shooter uses one of these weapons for a crime and you cannot trace it back to them...well, then guess what? We can’t prosecute them either! This loophole allows criminals to get away with murder time and time again. That’s why we need blockchain technology!</span>

<img class="aligncenter" src="https://wp-assets.futurism.com/2018/02/guncoin.jpg" alt="Blockchain and Gun Control" width="574" height="383" />
<h2><b>What will a Blockchain-Based Gun Registry Look Like?</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400">The registry will contain information about each gun, including make, model, caliber, and serial number. A centralized authority will manage the registry for security reasons. When someone buys a gun, it will register with a blockchain-based <a href="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/news/grayscale-launches-smart-contract-fund-for-ethereum-killers">smart contract</a> that stores vital information about that particular gun. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400">For example, imagine someone buying a weapon from an authorized retailer (think <a href="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/news/walmart-plans-to-create-cryptocurrency-and-nfts-report">Walmart</a>). In that case, they will be able to use their registered biometric fingerprint or RFID tag (or token) to prove that they have the liberty to purchase a said firearm. Of course, as long as they aren’t on any government no-fly lists. This way, we can track all guns in circulation in real-time. And if anyone attempts to buy a gun illegally, we can identify them immediately.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400">This system would also allow us to create safety regulations around firearms. For example, it could require trigger locks or personalized safes when storing weapons at home. We could even implement laws that require owners to take mandatory classes before purchasing certain weapons (such as automatic rifles). And because every transaction will be recorded on a public ledger, we can easily see who has been buying what—and where those guns end up going after being sold into secondary markets. This means that if anyone tries to sell stolen guns without reporting them missing first, we’ll know immediately.</span>
<h2><b>What Happens If Someone Tries Buying A Firearm Illegally?</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400">The buyer’s information is automatically flagged, and a proceed with caution warning appears on their record. If that person then tries buying a second gun, any other background check will give them an instant red flag. This will show that they are obviously violating current law. At that point, it’s up to lawmakers—and society—to decide what happens next. Perhaps a system for monitoring repeat offenders as we have for sex offenders? Or perhaps harsher punishments? One thing is clear. Blockchain technology makes implementing such policies easier than ever before. It also gives us some hope in tackling such complex social issues at scale.</span>
<h2><b>What About Semi-Automatic Weapons?</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400">Semi-automatic weapons are extremely popular in America. Because they do not require manual reloading, they allow users to fire ammunition faster. As a result, some people believe that semi-automatic weapons should be outlawed. This is because the manufacturers design them to kill quickly and efficiently. However, gun owners argue that semi-automatic weapons don’t deserve special attention. When they compare it with other methods of murder, they argue that semi-automatics are still a small fraction of gun violence. They further argue that most crimes involving these weapons use them in self-defense against criminals. And there is no hard evidence proving that outlawing them would reduce gun deaths or mass shootings.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400">It’s impossible to deny that semi-automatic weapons can cause devastation when used by criminals or disturbed individuals. However, it’s also true that law-abiding citizens use such guns for legitimate purposes every day. In some parts of America, particularly rural areas where hunting is popular, owning a semiautomatic weapon is as American as apple pie. It might seem like an easy way out for politicians who want to avoid angering either side: ban all semi-automatic weapons without addressing any other part of our broken system. But we can do better than that.</span>
<h2><b>Proactive Prevention With Local Law Enforcement Agencies</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400">One of blockchain’s greatest strengths is its ability to empower people in a community to take control of their own futures. By building trust between local law enforcement and citizens through a decentralized platform that collects and analyzes data, communities would have a greater opportunity to see crime trends before they happen. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400">This is especially important for gun control: because guns are easily purchased on unlicensed marketplaces like Craigslist or local classifieds. As a result, it is difficult for law enforcement agencies to monitor illegal sales accurately. However, suppose records were kept locally on a public ledger with easy-to-access features like email alerts. In that case, officers could act swiftly to remove weapons from potentially dangerous owners while still respecting legal gun owners’ constitutional rights.</span>
<h2><b>Conclusion</b></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400">While gun control is a highly divisive issue, with many arguing that ownership of firearms is essential to maintaining liberty, there seems to be broad consensus on one point: we need better ways to keep guns out of dangerous hands. If you believe in gun control (and chances are you do), then it is safe to say that we want one thing. All we want is for firearms to be used as safely as possible. In addition to new regulations and reforms, blockchain technology offers some exciting opportunities for facilitating greater transparency and accountability when it comes to gun purchases. </span>

Gun Control: Restricting Indiscriminate Access to Guns with Blockchain

blockchain technology might be the first realistic solution to address gun control while protecting the 2nd Amendment right of citizens to bear arms

Oluwademilade Afolabi is a freelance writer and editor passionate about blockchain technology and the health industry. He is a 6th year medical student, and has worked with various companies and blogs since the blockchain revolution began.

Gun Control: Restricting Indiscriminate Access to Guns with Blockchain

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