All In on smart guns

All In with Chris Hayes has been reporting on smart guns for years.

In 2014, we first delved into the intense debate in America over using smart guns – firearms that won’t shoot unless handled by an authorized user – and the blowback against people trying to sell them.

After All In‘s exclusive interview with Maryland gun dealer Andy Raymond, he received death threats.

New Jersey Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg joined Chris Hayes on air in May 2014 to present a compromise – if the NRA would stop impeding technological progress, she would move to repeal a law she helped to write which says that once smart guns are on the market, New Jersey gun dealers must stop selling all other firearms.

Chris Hayes then squared off with Larry Pratt, Executive Director of Gun Owners of America, over Senator Weinberg’s offer to repeal a gun control law in exchange for allowing more smart guns to be sold.

We followed up with Andy Raymond, the gun dealer who decided not to sell smart guns after receiving threats, about New Jersey State Senator Loretta Weinberg’s deal and his interest in finding common ground with those on opposite sides of the smart guns debate.

This year, in a groundbreaking new piece, All In examined the tipping point now facing the industry. Smart gun technology has matured to the point that smart guns will be on store shelves very soon, but the cultural and political barries to widespread acceptance are stronger than ever – as the NRA continues to stand in the way.