By Patrick Robinson

As a thought experiment let’s imagine a future weapon. A gun of an advanced type. In this scenario researchers create a way of mapping human faces, and physiogimy so accurately that a simple high speed scan using a miniaturized quantum computing driven device built into the gun can create a file on anyone it can scan. It works in any light, can see through masks or hoods and can store the files in the cloud. It is the ultimate retribution device. The ultimate single person killing machine.

But it doesn’t fire actual bullets. 

Instead it fires miniature flying bullet equpped drones that can track and then fire a secondary highly penetrating Pin style explosive charge that is 95% lethal. 

It doesn’t have to be fired in the heat of the moment. 

Instead, you could do a single pass scan of a criminal or someone to eliminate then fire the robotically driven projectile with a 15 mile flight range. The projectile could even go into LIW mode (Lie in Wait) able to monitor its surroundings and if the person targeted is recognized via sensors, take flight and carry out its mission.

It’s a gun, so the 2nd Amendment would apply right? You can’t regulate it. It’s not a Weapon of War so it would available to the public. 

The robotic shell would of course provide no data and would itself fall apart once the pin is fired so no tracking would be possible. It’s the perfect weapon. You are judge, jury and executioner.

Could it be used for murder? Obviously. Would it enable criminals? Be potentially used by assassins?  Yes it. could.

You can probably find many potential flaws in this scenario and it’s purposely outlandish but my point in sharing this thought experiment is the fact that technology has advanced massively since the 1700’s when the Bill of Rights (later the first ten amendments) was written.

At that time there were no flame throwers, hand grenades, particle beam weapons, tanks, machine guns, or other advanced weapons. When the Bill of Rights was ratified in 1791, the most advanced weapons available were primarily muskets, flintlock pistols, and cannons. The Brown Bess musket was widely used, capable of firing about three rounds per minute in skilled hands, though it lacked precision beyond 50 meters.

While firearms were generally single-shot and slow to reload, there were early repeating weapons, such as the Girardoni air rifle, which could fire multiple rounds without reloading. This rifle was notably carried by the Lewis and Clark expedition and was considered cutting-edge for its time.

Cannons were the most powerful battlefield weapons, used for siege warfare and naval combat, with some capable of firing grapeshot or explosive shells.

More recently technology has driven the safety of weapons. One example is the Biofire Smart Gun, which integrates fingerprint and facial recognition to ensure only authorized users can operate it. The gun locks automatically when it leaves the user's hand and unlocks instantly when an enrolled user picks it up.

Other technologies include retrofit kits that add fingerprint authentication to existing firearms, such as Sentinl’s IDENTILOCK, which attaches to the trigger and unlocks only when an authorized fingerprint is detected. 

They are not perfect systems.

Once you pull that trigger, the fate of another human being is affected. Don’t we need to be thinking far more carefully about what gun rights mean in an era of swift technological change?

But so far you thought this was all just a far fetched idea, something way off in the future and unlikely to ever be made.

But it literally does exist.

It’s called the Stinger drone and one site in near breathless verbiage says, “Meet the Stinger — an AI-powered drone, barely bigger than your palm, but built for pinpoint lethality.

It dodges obstacles like a pro, zigzags unpredictably, and uses cutting-edge facial recognition to lock on to its target. We're talking micro munitions, real-time location tracking, and resistance to jamming tech.

This thing doesn't just find who it's after — it already knows them.

Plugged into a vast AI-driven data network, the Stinger isn’t just flying… it’s hunting with purpose. Quiet. Fast. Precise.

And no, this isn’t some sci-fi trailer. It’s happening. It’s real. And it’s rewriting the rules of warfare.”

The company of course does not say this. They say it’s for reconnaissance, and development. But obviously weaponizing it is

child’s play. These can be weapons but if they are launched from a gun like tool.. hey the 2nd Amendment still applies. Right?

One key law that regulates the sale of military-grade weapons is 22 U.S. Code § 2778, which grants the President authority to control the import and export of defense articles and services. This law establishes the United States Munitions List, which designates items considered defense-related and subject to strict regulations.

Additionally, in 2024, lawmakers introduced the Stop Militarizing Our Streets Act, which aims to prohibit the sale of military-grade assault weapons and ammunition to civilians. This bill seeks to prevent Department of Defense contractors from selling such weapons commercially.

Drones, specifically military and defense-related unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are included in the United States Munitions List (USML) under Category VIII (Aircraft and Related Articles). This category covers UAVs designed for military use, including those equipped with weapon systems, intelligence-gathering capabilities, or advanced surveillance technology.

However, commercial drones and certain non-military UAVs may fall under the Commerce Control List (CCL), which is regulated by the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) rather than the USML.

Enemies don’t follow our laws of course. The attack by Ukraine on Russia is a glaring example. All is fair in war.

So it’s not hard to imagine a swarm of miniature drones attacking a single target, taking out bodyguards and other protective measures. We are clearly in a new era.

Will the Stinger and all the miniature drones to follow get outlawed? Wouldn’t that mean only criminals or enemies would be using them. 

That’s what happens with guns. Right?

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Here's the link to the company's announcement about it.

https://www.modalai.com/blogs/press-releases/modalai-launches-stinger-v…