NPR's Tovia smith reports that as debate continues over whether to ban assault weapons or certain other kinds of guns, some gun control advocates are trying to promote what they hope will be a less divisive approach. Rather than ban guns, they say, technology can help make guns safer. And they're promoting what they call 'smart guns'...that is, guns that can only be fired by their owners. Advocates say the 'smart guns' would help save countless lives, much the same way seatbelts and airbags help protect motorists. But critics say the smart gun technology is not yet advanced enough to ensure that the weapons will fire when they're needed.
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