An Arizona Lawmaker is Trying to Ban Blockchain Gun Tracking

No more 'Glockchain'? An Arizona lawmaker is proposing the state prohibit the use of blockchain to track firearms.

AccessTimeIconFeb 6, 2017 at 2:15 p.m. UTC
Updated Aug 18, 2021 at 5:42 p.m. UTC

Presented By Icon

Election 2024 coverage presented by

Stand with crypto

An Arizona lawmaker has proposed banning the use of blockchain to track firearms.

  • Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
    13:18
    Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
  • Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
    05:10
    Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
  • The first video of the year 2024
    04:07
    The first video of the year 2024
  • The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
    40:07
    The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
  • , first proposed on 17th January, would make it a felony "to require a person to use or be subject to" firearm tracking, explicitly identifying blockchain tech as a platform for doing so. The bill was submitted by Representative Paul Boyer and has steadily advanced through the legislature since its introduction.

    While it may sound unusual, the concept has been explored in the past by those working with the tech, perhaps most notably by way of the so-called "Glockchain" project developed as part of the Ideo coLAB initiative, as reported last year by BI.

    The basic premise is that a gun would be fitted with some kind of hardware sensor that could broadcast a transaction to a blockchain every time the gun is used.

    The Arizona bill suggests that there’s pushback against this idea, at least in some quarters of the US.

    As the bill states:

    "For the purposes of this section, ‘Electronic Firearm Tracking Technology’ means a platform, system or group of systems or devices that uses a shared ledger, distributed ledger or block chain technology or similar form of technology or electronic database for the purpose of storing information in a decentralized or centralized way, that is not owned or controlled by any single person or entity and that is used to locate or control the use of a firearm."

    The measure does include some exceptions, including situations in which a law enforcement official obtains a warrant during a criminal investigation, or the person in question willfully consents in writing to the use of such a tracking system.

    According to public records, the measure has already cleared two legislative committees, and on 2nd February was sent to the broader House of Representatives for consideration after approval by the Committee of the Whole.

    The full bill can be found below:

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information have been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk has adopted a set of principles aimed at ensuring the integrity, editorial independence and freedom from bias of its publications. CoinDesk is part of the Bullish group, which owns and invests in digital asset businesses and digital assets. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive Bullish group equity-based compensation. Bullish was incubated by technology investor Block.one.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.