Right to Bear Arms

Captain was proud of his revolver, brought from his mother planet, or Planet of Mothers, as some referred to Zaonia. He liked calling it a wheel gun. It made an impressive CLICK when you cocked it. The large hexagonal barrel and the fact you could see the bullets in the cylinder were intimidating as hell. This fact explained why the bullets stayed in the cylinder -mostly. Free traders had a rough life style. 

At the customs station, he swore as he realized he'd brought the handgun with him. He made no pretense -merely said, "I ain't slogging back to my ship with this. Can I rent a storage box for it till I get back?" He'd heard the local government had heavy retractions on weaponry. He unbuckled his gun belt. 

"A lock box won't be necessary, Captain. We pride ourselves on creating the least restrictive society possible. We can just make your hand cannon street legal for a nominal fee." The official produced a tube from his desk and prepared to slip it over the barrel of the revolver.

"Just one minute... first, you don't draw my piece without my say-so. I'll forgive it as we're of different cultures. Second, what the fuck is that steel condom you'd stick on my wheel gun?"

The official smiled. "The servo houses a gun camera. When you draw this weapon, it will record where you are pointing it, what you fire at. Thus we can determine whether you did indeed use deadly force appropriately. I'll give you a temporary registration, and gun permit chip... if you'll hold out your hand." 

The spacer did no such thing, especially as he saw the implant gun. This prompted another explanation. Customs adopted a more conciliatory tone. "The chip will be synched with the servo. If the firearm leaves your person, more than a couple meters, the chip will send a stinging impulse. The servo will lock blocking the barrel to prevent firing. We find it encourages responsibility in the weapon's owner. Also it prevents someone from using the weapon if they steal it."

"What if they take it, shoot me and throw my lifeless body in a hand truck for a friend to wheel behind them?"

"Oh, well, the video recording the shot is relayed to police headquarters. You will be identified as the owner via police records. They will then trigger another anti-theft mechanism allowing them to locate the pistol and dispatch officers."

"So, your police can track my movements from his servo... and probably this chip?"

"Ah but they won't just do that."

"Riiiight. Why do people put up with this bullshit? Let me guess, the cops can also disable the gun remotely."

"Of course.  This button here allows you to request clearance to use the firearm. The police have final say on whether the weapon may fire or not. You can even verbally explain the situation. It also cuts down on killing the weapon's owner."

"Cuts down. So by default the weapon is disabled by this servo, which also has a mic to let the police overhear me as well?"

"Well the police don't just..."

"Riiiight. I'll need a lockbox."

"You should reconsider. What if someone attempts to rob you, say and you must defend yourself?"

"Well it's not like they'd use a gun, when they have these servos?"

'There's all manner of improvised firearms possible. A... no system is perfect."

"Lockbox please." 

Captain paid for the lockbox and cleared customs. As he left the starport he patted the scan-zero concealed pistol in his jacket pocket. "Fucking idiots."

As an alternative to the standard law levels (LL), referees may allow handguns at higher levers, providing the firearms are street legal. 

Body pistols can be unmodified other than being made of ordinary materials and traced by sensors for no additional cost. They can be used up to LL4. Hiding one could still get you in trouble. Use a standard holster.

Pistols can be fitted with a gun camera for the same cost as an electronic sight. This modification allows them to be used at LL 5. Other weapons can be fitted and used at one LL greater than normal.

More restrictive devices as given above are left to the referee. 

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