Rick Smith didn't invent the taser—that credit goes to NASA researcher Jack Cover—but Smith did start the company, TASER International, to commercially produce the nonlethal weapon in 1993. Smith was motivated to start the company after losing two friends to gun violence. His friends, he testified in a court case, were killed by "a guy with a legally licensed gun who lost his temper."

In 2019 Smith wrote a book, "The End of Killing," which lays out an argument for developing nonlethal technologies that would, in theory, remove murder as an option.

What kind of technologies? Well, Smith is still CEO of the company he started, though the name has been changed to Axon. And last week, after the horrific mass shooting at a school in Uvalde, Texas, Smith unveiled a proposed solution:

Smith describes it as "a non-lethal, remotely-operated TASER drone system [that's] part of a long-term plan to stop mass shootings." The idea is that these would be on standby at the locations that want them, and constantly monitoring using "AI-powered persistent surveillance." Within 60 seconds of a threat being detected, a "highly trained" remote pilot would fly the drone using VR goggles and tase the shooter.

Smith announced the drone last week. The following day, Smith participated in an "Ask Me Anything" on Reddit, which you can read here. Spirited debate ensued.

This week, nine of the 12 advisors on Axon's AI Ethics Board resigned to protest the ongoing development of the drone. As they wrote in their statement:

Does anyone have any viable ideas?

Stop selling military/police grade firearms to children, I consider anyone under 21 a child. In Canada we have to go through background checks, that includes sign off by spouses and former spouses (including common law) prior to a firearms license issued.  We also have to go through a training class and have an instructor approve the application.  I am in favor of even tougher laws in Canada. My American friends, you must do something to stop children from being murdered in schools.  You must!

1. Abolish weapons.  2. Stop polluting.  3. We are all one.

Any product that would get rid of 12 misguided advisors is a great start to solving mass shooting problems.  Perhaps the parents of the dead children should be asked for their opinions.

what a world...   "only in America..."

I’m a lapsed industrial designer. I was born in NYC and figured I’d die there, but a few years ago I abandoned New York to live on a farm in the countryside with my wife. We have six dogs.

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