Since we partnered with Lodestar Technology to promote its innovative firearm, the LNK9, we have seen several questions and comments concerning the gun’s overall validity in the world of firearms for personal defense. We have also witnessed some hateful comments online and lost a few hundred followers on our social media platforms in response to posting about this new firearm. In this post, we will address the remarks and questions we’ve seen since agreeing to partner with Lodestar.
First of all, let’s refresh (if needed) or educate on the overall design of the LNK9:
Let’s look at questions that an interested user might ask:
We will answer these questions below, along with common concerns posted on social media in response to the LNK9.
What if there is blood or some other debris on your fingers and you need to unlock the gun?
Along with the fingerprint pad, there are three PIN pads that you can use, and you program the numbers (1,2,3) accordingly. You can have gloves on, be missing a digit or two or use a stick or branch to press the right pads in the order that you set. If you share the PIN, others can access it, too. Heck, you could probably use your toes, if you had to …
If you need a “safe” gun, then you don’t trust yourself and don’t have enough firearms training to be safe with proper trigger discipline, etc. Use a safe or locker instead.
We disagree! If you desire a “safe,” meaning personally authenticated (or some may may call it a biometric) firearm, you are in a group of people who realize that having a loaded firearm lying around and within easy access will not work for them. Maybe they have young children in the home who have friends that come over, or mentally-challenged people living with them. Perhaps they have concerns with family members who are under suicide watches. This firearm has been created for a niche – people who would either a) not have a standard gun in the home or b) people who would want to have a personal defense firearm in a locked safe at all times.
Worry about mandated control or tracking because this is a “smart gun” with technology the government could track or use. “Big Brother” type access.
If you’re using a SmartPhone with apps and other settings, you’re already in the world of “Big Brother.” However, this mobile app works with you to manage the LNK9, including user preferences, power level, fingerprints, PIN settings, charging pad Wi-Fi, FAQs and factory reset for resale. It does not store this information in the cloud.
Concern that this will become a mandated technology by the anti-gun community. Government overreach concerns.
Our FFL dude expressed this very concern, and this is why it’s important that the firearms community understand the market and reasons for this particular firearm, and defend its place among us – yet also defend our right to choose the type of firearm we want to use in self-defense. We need to embrace technology so that more people will choose to defend themselves and their loved ones.
Worry that the gun won’t work if it hasn’t been charged.
Owning a gun such as this one comes with an obligation to be vigilant with charging. But, deciding to put a red dot on a personal defense firearm also necessitates vigilance in checking the battery life. The LNK9 comes with a charging pad that can be mounted and even placed in a car console. You may even order an extra charging pad or two, if you want to place them in different locations. If you enable the “deep sleep” mode, the firearm can operate for 5 days. If you choose not to enable deep sleep, it will need to be put on the charger daily. We’ve all gotten the hang of keeping our cell phones charge, as they are important tools in our daily lives. We believe if you choose to use the LNK9 for its safe technology, the same charging routines will be adapted into every-day life.
Overcomplicated and unnecessary.
That’s up to the user to decide. If a person wants to own an LNK9, and is willing to take a short amount of time (under 20 minutes) it will take to learn about its operating system, this gun will be the perfect fit. Just think about what it took to learn how to operate efficiently an AR system, for crying out loud. We appreciate that the Lodestar Technology team offers the ultimate in product support, too. This makes navigating the new technology even easier.
And our favorite … Just teach kids gun safety and you won’t need this firearm.
Hey, your kids might know what to do when and if they encounter a firearm somewhere without adult supervision nearby, but … what about their friends? And also … what happens if this gun is stolen or lost? You can easily disable it from your mobile app. As children are learning important safety values, it takes time for those lessons to take hold. Kids learn to be wary of running in front of vehicles, but we still don’t allow them to play in busy parking lots. To some people, this is an added layer of protection that is worth the learning curve of the technology.
Do you have more questions about the LNK9? Learn more about it at the Lodestar Technology website. MSRP: $1399
Publisher/Editor Barbara Baird is a freelance writer in hunting, shooting and outdoor markets. Her bylines are found at several top hunting and shooting publications. She also is a travel writer, and you can follow her at https://www.ozarkian.com. View all posts by Barbara Baird
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