Obama: NRA Is Blocking Smart Gun Technology

President Barack Obama on Thursday said that smart gun technology that would prevent guns from being fired by anyone but their rightful owners is being held up by gun lobbyists and manufacturers.

"It has not been developed primarily because it's been blocked by either the NRA, which is funded by gun manufacturers or other reasons," Obama said during CNN's town hall program "Guns in America."

"We'll work with the private sector. We'll figure out whether or not this technology can be developed and then give everybody a choice in terms of the kind of firearm that they want to purchase because I think that there will, in fact, be market for that and over time."

But the NRA says it has no problem with the technology. It objects, rather, to a New Jersey law that requires all new guns sales to be only for smart weapons as soon as such a gun hits the market in the United States.

"We've never had a problem with smart gun technology," NRA spokesman Lars Dalseide told CNN.com. "Our only issue with New Jersey was the mandate that would require firearm dealers to only sell smart guns. The choice should be left to the marketplace."

Related Stories:

• Obama: I've Never Owned a Gun
• Obama: I Won't Support Any Candidate Who Doesn't Back Gun Reforms