Abstract:
A firearm safety system and method is described herein. The system may include a tracking system, a smart firearm and/or a smart magazine, and a smart tracking unit. The tracking system is in communication with satellites that monitor specific locations, a smart firearm and a portable electronic device. The tracking system includes an internal geographical database of specific monitored locations. The smart firearm includes a microprocessor and a receiver. The motor operates in response to a signal received, which may indicate that the firearm is approaching a no gun safety zone, whereby the signal causes the microprocessor to operate the automatic safety lock to prevent the apparatus from operating. The receiver monitors signals and receives location data from the satellites. The method of operating a smart firearm includes receiving a signal at the at least one receiver and responding to the signal by locking the automatic safety lock.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a firearm safety system and, more particularly, to a system for the prevention of any unauthorized and/or undesired discharge of a firearm. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Gun safety is a widespread and overriding issue in today&#39;s society and one of the biggest concerns is gun control. These concerns include accidental shootings, the use of guns by children, suicide, possession of firearms by criminals, and the shooting of police officers and law enforcement agents with the officer or agent&#39;s own weapon while in the line of duty. 
     Another area of concern is the complete prevention of accidental discharge of weapons so as to avoid unintentional injuries or death. For example, weapons may come into the hands of children or inexperienced firearm users, which may then be accidentally or improperly discharged, resulting in death or serious injury. Police officers, security guards, correctional facility officers and other law enforcement officers typically carry a firearm for their own protection as well as the protection of others. Such law enforcement officers may be continually exposed to situations where potential assailants must be physically confronted or detained. During the process of being confronted or detained, potential assailants may have the chance to take the officer&#39;s firearm away from him. The officer then faces the risk that the assailant will use his own firearm against him. 
     Typically, people on both sides of the gun control issue support the development of devices which prevent unauthorized gun use. Such restrictions may commonly be endorsed as means for preventing gun use by children and criminals. Accordingly, efforts have been made to incorporate firearms with devices, which may restrict or control use. 
     Devices have been developed to address this need for firearm safety devices. There have been numerous attempts to improve gun safety by use of mechanical safety locks. Some of the initial attempts at safety were by the design of trigger locks. The trigger lock is traditionally operated by a key and prevents the firearm from being used unless the lock is removed. However, if someone has access to the key, the trigger lock can be removed and the firearm discharged. Accordingly, it does not eliminate firearm use by a child or intruder. Furthermore, if the lock is not used, the firearm may be discharged by anyone who has access to the firearm. 
     Historically, manufacturers of firearms have attempted to develop safety systems that may aid in the prevention of the unintentional discharge of firearms, such as a grip safety. It may require that the shooter to depress the grip safety sufficiently before the firearm can be fired. Thus, an unintentional trigger pull that could occur from dropping or other mishandling of the firearm would not allow the firearm to fire because the grip safety would have to be depressed also. If the grip safety is not properly gripped, it may not be depressed sufficiently to allow the firearm to be fired. 
     A thumb safety operates by manually shifting the safety lever from its “safe” position to its “fire” position. A grip safety is automatically shifted to its “fire” position when the user&#39;s hand engages the stock or handle of the weapon. 
     Other types of devices may utilize personalized data. For example, some gun safety devices may use finger or hand print data in identifying authorized users and enabling operation. Similarly, others may use voice recognition circuitry for identifying authorized users and enabling operation. Pressure sensing grip sensors may be used to determine if the gripping pattern matches the pattern of an authorized user of the firearm. That is, it suggests using the pattern of how the authorized user grips the firearm as a means of recognizing him. These concepts may use pressure sensors as grip sensors. 
     Another safety mechanism for a firearm may consist of a specialized scanning mechanism built into the firearm&#39;s trigger. The scanner may be programmed to read the unique fingerprints of a given individual. The device may be capable of holding the programmed print information for more than one person, so that multiple people would be able to use the firearm. However, usage may be limited to only those persons whose hand prints have been pre-stored in the scanner. The scanner mechanism may be connected to the firearm&#39;s safety lock, whereby the safety may be prevented from being released without proper authorization from the scanner. When a person grips the weapon and places his finger on the trigger, the pressure of the finger on the trigger may activate the scanner, and the scanner reads the fingerprint to determine if the scanned fingerprint matches one of the pre-stored fingerprint images. If the individual is an authorized user, the scanner may transmit a signal to the safety, releasing this device and activating the firearm for use. 
     Prior firearm safety systems have certain drawbacks or disadvantages. Therefore, there is a need for an improved firearm safety system, such as a system that may be computer assisted for safety, accountability, and public safety. The desired solution may prevent gun violence that can be established without eroding citizens&#39; rights to own and/or carry firearms. 
     SUMMARY 
     A firearm safety system is described herein. The firearm safety system may include a tracking system, a smart firearm and/or a smart magazine, and a smart tracking unit. The smart firearm apparatus may include a frame housing at least one microprocessor and at least one receiver in communication with the at least one microprocessor, wherein the at least one receiver may be configured to receive a signal. The smart firearm apparatus may also include at least one motor in communication with the at least one microprocessor, a trigger capable of operating the apparatus, a sear mechanically connected to the trigger, a striker mechanically connected to the sear, and at least one automatic safety lock in communication with the at least one microprocessor and the at least one motor. The at least one motor may be configured to operate in response to the signal received by the at least one receiver and the at least one motor may be configured to operate the at least one automatic safety lock to prevent the apparatus from operating. The at least one automatic safety lock may be configured to prevent the sear from engaging the striker whereby the apparatus may be unable to operate. 
     The at least one receiver may be configured to monitor signals and receive location data from at least one satellite. The smart firearm apparatus may also include at least one transmitter that may be configured to communicate with the at least one microprocessor and the at least one receiver, wherein the at least one transmitter may be configured to transmit a signal. The apparatus may also include a tracking unit in communication with the at least one microprocessor. The tracking unit may include an internal geographical database of specific monitored locations. The specific monitored locations may include schools and federal buildings, for example. 
     The at least one safety lock may be configured to permit the apparatus to operate and prevent the apparatus from operating. The at least one safety lock may comprise a bar. The specific monitored locations may include a designated no gun safety zone around the locations. The at least one receiver may be capable of receiving geographic coordinate signals and the at least one microprocessor may be capable of matching those geographic coordinate signals with an internal pre-stored geographical database of specific monitored locations. The signal may be received at the at least one receiver indicating that the smart firearm apparatus may be approaching a no gun safety zone, whereby the signal may cause the at least one microprocessor to operate the at least one automatic safety lock. 
     A method of operating a smart firearm is disclosed herein. The smart firearm may include a trigger capable of operating the apparatus, a sear mechanically connected to the trigger, a striker mechanically connected to the sear, at least one microprocessor, at least one receiver, and at least one automatic safety lock. The method of operating a smart firearm may comprise the steps of: receiving a signal at the at least one receiver and responding to the signal by locking the at least one automatic safety lock. The at least one automatic safety lock may be configured to prevent the sear from engaging the striker whereby the apparatus may be unable to operate when the trigger is pulled. The signal may be received from a tracking system. The tracking system may be in communication with at least one satellite. The at least one receiver may be capable of receiving geographic coordinate signals and the at least one microprocessor may be capable of matching those geographic coordinate signals with an internal pre-stored geographical database of specific monitored locations. The signal may be received at the at least one receiver indicating that the firearm may be approaching a no gun safety zone, whereby the signal may cause the at least one microprocessor to operate the at least one automatic safety lock to lock the firearm. 
     A firearm safety system is disclosed herein. The firearm safety system may include a tracking system that may be communication with at least one satellite, wherein the at least one satellite may be capable of monitoring specific locations. The firearm safety system may also include a smart firearm including a microprocessor and tracking unit, wherein the smart firearm may be configured to communicate with the tracking system. The firearm safety system may also include a portable electronic device that may be configured to communicate with the tracking system and the smart firearm, wherein the portable electronic device may be configured to lock and unlock the smart firearm. When the smart firearm approaches a specific location being monitored, the portable electronic device may be capable of producing a warning signal, and when the smart firearm enters into the specific location being monitored, the smart firearm may be configured to be locked down upon entering the specific location being monitored. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Objects and advantages together with the operation of the invention may be better understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the following illustrations, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a firearm safety system in use with a safety zone. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary embodiment of a firearm safety system. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a side cut away view of an exemplary embodiment of a smart firearm of the firearm safety system. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a close up side view of  FIG. 3  of an exemplary embodiment of an automatic safety lock for a smart firearm of the firearm safety system. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a close up side view of  FIG. 3  of an exemplary embodiment of an automatic safety lock for a smart firearm of the firearm safety system. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a side cut away view of an exemplary embodiment of a smart magazine of the firearm safety system. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a perspective view of a portable electronic device of an exemplary embodiment of the firearm safety system. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional changes may be made without departing from the respective scope of the invention. As such, the following description is presented by way of illustration only and should not limit in any way the various alternatives and modifications that may be made to the illustrated embodiments and still be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, as used herein, the term “exemplary” is intended to mean serving as an illustration or example of something, and is not intended to indicate a preference. 
     A firearm safety system  100  (the “system  100 ”) is illustrated in  FIGS. 1-7 . The firearm safety system  100  may also be referred to as the SmartGun Safety System. The firearm safety system  100  may include any appropriate number or types of components. In an exemplary embodiment, the firearm safety system  100  may include a tracking component  200  and a smart gun or smart firearm component  300 . In another exemplary embodiment, the firearm safety system  100  may include a tracking component  200  and a smart magazine component  400 . The tracking component  200  may be referred to as the SmartTracker, the smart firearm component  300  may be referred to as the SmartGun and the smart magazine component  400  may be referred to as the SmartMag. 
     The tracking component  200  or system may include at least one safety zone  202 , at least one safety perimeter  204 , at least one smart tracking unit and at least one smart tracking application. The tracking system  200  may also include at least one satellite tracking system  210 . 
     The firearm safety system  100  may be utilized for any appropriate purpose. For example, the firearm safety system  100  may be utilized to prevent public and personal safety threats. In an exemplary embodiment, the firearm safety system  100  may be utilized to protect buildings  102 , such as schools, federal buildings, private corporations and the like. The firearm safety system  100  may be utilized with safety zones  202  and safety perimeters  204 . Each safety zone  202  and/or safety perimeter  204  may have a posted sign  108  indicating that the firearm owner  106  is about to cross the safety perimeter  204  and enter the safety zone  202 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The safety zones  202  may be referred to as No Gun SafetyZones and the safety perimeters  204  may be referred to as No Gun SafetyPerimeters. 
     The firearm safety system  100  may assure that each smart firearm owner adheres to all established firearm safety laws. The firearm safety system  100  may be used for schools, governments, corporations, residences, churches, military bases, conflict zones, political and public events, and numerous other applications and should not be limited to that disclosed herein. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a safety perimeter  204  may be established via satellite  210  or any other appropriate means around any school, government building, or corporate service subscribers. No smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400  would be operable inside that safety perimeter  204 . Many public institutions such as schools and courthouses, may establish at least one safety zone  202  around the desired building(s). Each building  102  to be protected may include one or more safety zones  202  in any desired location. 
     Each safety zone  202  may include a safety perimeter  204 . Each safety perimeter  204  may be set at any desired distance  104  around the protected building(s)  102 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . For example, a safety perimeter  204  located around a school and its associated buildings may be set at approximately 3,000 feet. The safety zones  202  and associated safety perimeters  204  may be adjustable and are not necessarily set to one specific distance. For example, the safety perimeter  204  around a school may be set to 3,000 feet from the exterior of the school building(s) during the school year, school week and during school events, but the safety perimeter  204  may then be adjusted to 1,500 feet from the exterior of the school buildings during the summers or during afterhours. 
     In addition, the safety zones  202  may not be limited to federal and state protected buildings and/or events. For example, a customer or subscriber of the firearm safety system may desire to create a safety zone  202  absent of any legal, operable smart firearms  300  or smart magazines  400 . For example, local law enforcement officers and the like may still have operable firearms and magazines within the safety zone  202 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , any smart firearm  300  owner who tried to cross the safety perimeter  204  into the safety zone  202  with an activated smart firearm  300  would trigger a safety alert to all law officers, and the smart firearm  300  and/or smart magazine  400  would automatically lockdown immediately once crossing into the established safety perimeter  204 , thereby rendering the weapon inoperable. 
     Each firearm safety system  100  may be used in conjunction with a smart tracking unit  206 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 7 . The smart tracking unit  206  may be a portable electronic device, such as the firearm owner&#39;s mobile phone  206  or smart phone  206 , or the portable electronic device may be a separate unit that may be used in conjunction with the firearm safety system  100 . When discussed throughout the application, it is to be understood that when referring to the smart tracking unit it may also be referring to the owner&#39;s mobile smart phone  206 , and when referring to the owner&#39;s mobile smart phone  206  it may also be referring to a separate smart tracking unit. The smart tracking unit  206  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as a small electronic device that may fit in the owner&#39;s pocket or purse, or easily fit on the owner&#39;s person in a small and convenient manner. 
     The tracking system  200  may establish and monitor all safety zones  202  and safety perimeters  204  by using a smart tracking application (“app”)  208 , such as a phone app  208 , and any appropriate tracking means. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the tracking system  200  may utilize various established satellites  210 , such as government and telecommunication satellites. In other exemplary embodiments, the tracking system  200  may utilize various sensors, radar, multilateration of radio signals between several radio towers of the network and the phone, underground wiring (such as with an underground pet fence) and the like. The smart firearm  300  and smart magazine  400  may be in constant communication with and operated by a smart tracking application on an owner&#39;s smart phone  206  or smart tracking unit. 
     The satellite tracking system  210  may utilize GPS, A-GPS (Assisted Global Satellite Positioning System) or GPSone (GPS One, Global Satellite Positioning System One) satellite positioning technology, and the GPS information related to the SmartGun/SmartMag, including a combination of time, position, altitude and speed, are transmitted to the remote server  110 . 
     The satellite tracking system  210  may include various kinds of wireless communications, including, but not limited to, RF (radio frequency), GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), GPRS (General Packet Radio Services), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access), WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), WiFi (Wireless Fidelity), or satellite to satellite communication. 
     The smart firearm  300  and tracking system  200  may work together in conjunction with the owner&#39;s activated smart phone  206  tracking app  208 . The smart firearm  300  and smart magazine  400  may be operated through a smart tracking app  208  that may be downloaded or uploaded onto any mobile smart phone  206 , smart tracking unit and/or small electronic device. With reference to  FIG. 7 , the smart tracking app  208 , the registered gun owner may lock or unlock his or her smart firearm  300  with a pass code, such as a password, numerical or alpha numerical code. The smart firearm  300  may then be operable in all unrestricted areas. For example, in use, the smart firearm  300  may be unlocked by the owner. To unlock the smart firearm  300 , the owner may enter a pass code into the owner&#39;s smart tracking phone app  208  on the owner&#39;s smart phone  206 , as shown in  FIG. 7 . The smart firearm  300  may then be operable on the owner&#39;s property, hunting grounds, shooting ranges, and any unrestricted public areas. 
     Every firearm safety system  100  may work in conjunction with the smart firearm  300 , owner&#39;s smart phone  206  and smart tracking app  208 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the firearm owner may log onto the smart tracking app  208  on their smart phone  206  and enter their pass code to activate their weapon ( 112 ). Once the weapon owner is out in public their firearm may operate as normal unless in a safety zone ( 114 ). Once the weapon owner approaches a safety perimeter  204  ( 116 ), the owner may receive a notice or warning of the safety perimeter  204  and safety zone  202  ( 118 ). At this point the weapon owner may either choose to proceed legally or illegally. If the owner chooses to proceed legally, the weapon owner may enter their pass code into the smart tracking app  208  and lockdown their smart weapon ( 120 ). If the weapon owner decides to proceed illegally, the owner chooses not to lock down their smart weapon ( 122 ). 
     With further reference to  FIG. 2 , the owner of the smart weapon may then crosses a safety perimeter  204  or enters a safety zone  202  ( 124 ), whereby their smart weapon may be remotely deactivated ( 128 ) by communications between the smart firearm  300 /smart magazine  400  and tracking system  200  components, thereby rendering their smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400  inoperable. Simultaneously, law enforcement officers may be notified of the safety zone  202  violation ( 126 ) and then arrive on scene to apprehend the weapon owner ( 130 ). 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , the smart tracking phone app  208  may also tell the firearm owner where the safety zones  202  are located and warn the smart firearm  300  owner ahead of time so that the firearm owner may avoid violating the safety zone  202 . For example, there may be options in the smart tracking app  208  that the owner may personalize regarding when the firearm owner is notified of a safety zone  202 . The owner may personalize how often he or she is notified, the distance away from the safety zone  202  before the owner is notified, and the like. There may also be an option that the owner may select that may automatically lock down the owner&#39;s smart firearm  300  prior to entering a safety zone  202 , such as within 10 feet of a safety zone  202  the owner may choose to have his or her smart weapon automatically lock down, so that the owner does not have to worry about breaking the law. 
     Whenever the smart firearm  300  may be activated by the owner in a public area, the smart firearm  300  may be tracked via satellite  210 , such as by a Global Positioning System (GPS) or any other appropriate tracking means, by the tracking system  200 . It is widely known to be able to track cell phones  206  by satellite  210 . There are many GPS phone  206  applications online, such as Google Maps and Google Latitude. Once the smart tracking app  208  is installed on the owner&#39;s smart phone  206 , the phone  206  may send a signal to a GPS satellite  210 , which will then send the signal back to a receiver that will put the owner&#39;s location on a map. 
     The registered smart firearm  300  owner would be accountable and verified by his or her established phone service records. Alternatively, the registered smart firearm  300  owner may be verified by any other appropriate type of record, such as by social security number, tax records, utilities, and the like, and should not be limited to that disclosed herein. As an alternative, the smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400  owner may be required to go into a location, such as a gun store, police station or the like, to have their smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400  updated, upgraded and/or verified. This way the owner information may be consistently updated and accurate so that the owner of the smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400  may be held accountable for his or her actions. For example, the smart gun or smart magazine  400  owner may go into a police station, log onto a computer to update and verify their contact information. This could be a mandatory law, voluntary, and/or could be associated with necessary upgrades to the smart firearm  300  system. These upgrades and updates may be included in the cost of the smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400 . 
     The tracking system  200  may establish and monitor all safety perimeters  204  and safety zones  202  by using the smart tracking app  208  and various government satellites  210 . Any activated smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400  may be deactivated via communications between the smart tracking system  200  and various components in communication with that system. If the owner of the smart firearm  300  approaches within 1000 feet of any safety zone  202  the smart tracking app  208  may alert the firearm owner. The smart firearm  300  and/or smart magazine  400  may automatically lockdown once the gun owner crosses the safety perimeter  204  of the established safety zone  202 . An immediate alert is also sent out to all local law officers. The safety perimeter  204  may be established around all schools, government buildings, corporate service subscribers and the like. 
     Protected public entities with established safety perimeters  204  may set the perimeter distance as desired (e.g., 3,000 foot perimeter for a school, or a 5,000 foot for a military base). Anyone with a smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400  would not be able to encroach the established safety perimeter  204  without deactivating the smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400  and alerting authorities simultaneously. Once smart firearms  300  or smart magazines  400  are the only weaponry allowed in public areas, safety zones  202  may be established in various public areas. All public threats would be severely hindered by implementation of the firearm safety system  100  and related technology. 
     With the firearm safety system  100  technology, the threat of gun theft may decrease dramatically. The owner of the smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400  may have a pass code for their smart firearm  300 . The smart firearm  300  may have to be used in conjunction with the owner&#39;s smart phone  206  only. Owners of smart firearms  300  and smart magazines  400  may also lock their weapons while not in use or while the owner is away from the firearm. The owner may also lock their weapons remotely if they forgot, or as needed for safety purposes. 
     If the smart firearm  300  is used in conjunction with the owner&#39;s smart phone  206 , the smart firearm  300  would know if it is pointed in the direction of the smart firearm owner by signals being communicated and sent between the system components. This may prevent the gun owner from having their smart firearm  300  used against them by an assailant, eliminate smart firearm  300  weapon theft, and may also prevent suicide from being committed with a smart firearm  300 . In an exemplary embodiment, the gun owner may typically have his or her smart phone  206  on their person in addition to their smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400 . 
     The smart phone  206  may be able to communicate with the smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400  via any appropriate manner, such as sensors located in the system components, satellite tracking, etc. The smart firearm  300  may communicate with the smart phone  206  to indicate that the smart firearm  300  is pointed towards the smart phone  206 . Once the smart phone app  208  picks up that the smart firearm  300  is pointed towards the gun owner and the smart phone  206 , the smart tracking app  208  may communicate with the smart firearm  300  to disarm the gun and prevent the gun from being shot at the gun owner. 
     Alternatively, the gun owner may also be implanted with a RFID chip or the like that may emit a signal that the smart tracking app  208  may also tracks. This signal may be used to determine if the smart firearm  300  is being pointed at the owner of the smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400 , thereby disabling the smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400  from being able to shoot the weapon at the owner. 
     As the owner of a smart firearm  300  approaches an established safety zone  202  their smart phone app  208  may issue a warning, such as an audible and/or vibration warning, advising them that they need to legally deactivate their smart firearm  300 . If a smart firearm  300  owner crosses the safety perimeter  204 , the smart firearm  300  and smart magazine  400  may automatically lockdown making the weapon inoperable. Simultaneously local law officers may be notified of the safety zone violation and arrest the disarmed suspect. The safety zones  202  may be established at schools, charges, government buildings, military facilities, conflict zones, political and public events, and many others. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, each smart firearm  300  owner must have a tracking mobile unit, or smart phone  206  with the smart tracking phone application  208  to operate it. To activate the smart firearm  300 , an individualized pass code combination may be entered into the tracking unit or phone app  208 . A smart firearm  300  may be developed and configured for every make, model, caliber size, and the remote automatic trigger lockdown may be used for any device that uses a trigger mechanism. The law abiding citizen may be free to legally carry his smart firearm  300  equipped with a smart magazine  400  in any unrestricted area. However, if the gun owner approaches 1,000 feet of any safety perimeter  204  with an activated smart firearm  300 , the smart tracking phone app  208  or a separate smart tracking unit may warn them to legally deactivate their smart firearm  300 . 
     While 1,000 feet may be suggested as a default starting point, it may be preferable that larger caliber firearms with more effective ranges have a larger distance between the safety perimeter  204  and protected facility  102 . For example, .50 caliber may have a 6,000 foot established safety perimeter  204  and a 9 mm may have a 3,000 foot safety perimeter  204 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , the smart firearm  300  may include a computer processing unit  302 , such as a microprocessor, and an automatic safety lock  304  located within and/or secured to the frame  306  of the firearm. The automatic safety lock  304  may operate in various manners depending upon the type of firearm being utilized, such as a pistol, rifle, etc. The automatic safety lock  304  may be of any appropriate shape, size, type or configuration, such as a bar, L-shaped bar, and the like, depending upon the desired location of the automatic safety lock in the desired type of weapon. The microprocessor  302  may lock down the smart firearm  300  via the automatic safety lock  304 . 
     The automatic safety lock  304  may be located in any appropriate location on the frame  306  of the smart firearm  300 , depending upon where the safety lock  304  may best fit. In an exemplary embodiment and with reference to  FIG. 4 , the smart firearm  300  may comprise a subcompact 9 mm pistol, for example. In the exemplary embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the smart firearm  300  may include various electronic and telecommunication components, such as a microprocessor  302 , a firearm tracking component  308  (such as a GPS unit), a transmitter  310 , a receiver  312 , a battery  314  and an input port  316 , such as for charging the battery  314  if needed. The smart firearm  300  may also include a switch  318 , a relay  320  and a motor  322  connected to an automatic safety lock  304 . 
     In use, the microprocessor  302  may receive a signal to lock down the smart firearm  300  and the automatic safety lock  304  may move into the lock position. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the subcompact 9 mm pistol may be locked down via the automatic safety lock  304  by preventing the sear  324  from moving the striker  326 . The sear pin  324  of the firearm may be locked, thereby preventing the striker  326  from making contact with the cartridge primer. The trigger lock bar  328  could be housed in the grip  330  preventing the trigger bar  328  from moving the sear  324 , which would lock the striker  326 . 
     The location of the remote automatic safety lock  304  may depend on the make, model and caliber size of the firearm. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the smart firearm  300  may include various electronic and telecommunication components, such as a microprocessor  302 , a firearm tracking component  308  (such as a GPS unit), a transmitter  310 , a receiver  312 , a battery  314  and an input port  316 , such as for charging the battery  314  if needed. The smart firearm  300  may also include a switch  318 , a relay  320  and a motor  322  connected to an automatic safety lock  304 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the automatic safety lock  304  may comprise a lock bar  328  located within the grip safety  332  of the smart firearm  300 . The remote automatic safety lock  304  may be placed at a point where a bar may prevent a grip safety  332  from depressing, which would render the firearm inoperable. In another exemplary embodiment, the remote automatic safety lock  304  may be placed in an area closer to the trigger  334  and next to a locking block  336  of the smart firearm  300 , as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the microprocessor unit  302  in the smart firearm  300  may have the GPS coordinates for any established safety perimeters  204 . If the gun equipped with smart firearm  300  technology entered a safety zone  202 , the microprocessor  302  in the smart firearm  300  would order the smart firearm  300  to execute the automatic safety lockdown procedure, which would activate the lock motor switch  318  to move the trigger automatic safety lock bar  304  into position locking the sear pin  324  in place rendering the firearm inoperable. Simultaneously, the microprocessor  302  on the smart firearm  300  in communication with the smart tracking unit  206  may transmit the location and any pertinent information to law authorities by using the tracking system remote server  110 . Any smart firearm  300  crossing into a safety perimeter  204  would alert the tracking system  200 . The tracking system  200  would send a satellite signal to the smart firearm  300  receiver  312 . 
     A benefit of the smart firearm  300  is that it may prevent gun theft due to the assigned smart tracking unit  206  and/or smart tracking phone app  208  and individualized pass code. A child could no longer find a firearm and accidentally harm themselves. As a result of communications between the smart tracking unit  206  and the smart firearm  300 , the firearm may go into automatic lockdown mode if it is pointed toward the direction of the smart firearm  300  owner, thus preventing assailants from using a smart firearm  300  against its owner, an owner accidentally shooting themselves, but also preventing a smart firearm  300  owner from attempting suicide. 
     During start up, the smart tracking app  208  and tracking system  200  may load the preset safety zone coordinates into the smart firearm  300 . If the smart firearm  300  crosses a safety perimeter  204 , the computer may activate the trigger lock bar motor  322 . The lock motor  322  switches on and moves the trigger automatic safety lock bar  304  into the lock position, thereby sliding the lock bar  304  into the sear  324 . With the lock bar  304  located in the lock position inside the sear  324 , the sear  324  is unable to move preventing the striker  326  from moving, thereby rendering the weapon inoperable. 
     Every smart firearm  300  may be used in conjunction with the smart tracking smart phone app  208  and tracking system  200 . All smart firearms  300  may have a personalized user pass code that may be used to activate the smart firearm  300 . Each smart firearm  300  may be used on private property, designated spaces, and unrestricted public areas. If a smart firearm  300  owner ventured close to an established safety perimeter  204 , their smart tracking app  208  may alert them to legally deactivate their smart firearm  300 . Encroaching inside of the safety perimeter  204  may automatically lockdown the smart firearm  300  making the weapon inoperable and simultaneously alerting local law officers. 
     Every smart firearm  300  is used in conjunction with the smart tracking app  208  on their smart phone  206  and may be tracked by the tracking system  200 . If the smart firearm owner approaches an established safety perimeter  204  their smart phone  206  may alert the owner to legally disarm their weapon. Crossing into the safety zone  202  may automatically deactivate the smart firearm  300  and simultaneously alert law officers. 
     The smart firearm  300  may enable communities to create safety zones  202  where no smart firearms  300  or smart magazines  400  can threaten them. It may be designated for every caliber type of weapon. Any gun manufactured from this point forward may be designed to be a smart firearm  300 . This could include revolvers, pistols, shotguns, rifles, and the like, theoretically anything with a trigger. 
     Inside a safety perimeter  204  there may be established active smart firearms  300  for security purposes (e.g., military police officers on a military base, only officers&#39; smart firearms  300  may be active while all other soldiers smart firearms  300  may be deactivated upon crossing the set safety perimeter  204 . In another example, only the smart firearms  300  utilized by the Secret Service at a Presidential destination may be active. Alternatively, temporary events and special events, such as major sporting events, Olympics, concerts and the like may utilize safety zones  202 . 
     Using a smart firearm  300  owner&#39;s smart phone  206  may help ensure their identity and make them accountable. If a smart firearm  300  is discharged in public, local law officers may be notified immediately of the disturbance and location and provide any necessary assistance. A smart firearm  300  may be locked remotely by the owner for travel or safety purposes. 
     The firearm safety system  100  may also deter gun theft. When the smart firearm  300  is used in conjunction with the owner&#39;s smart phone  206 , the smart firearm  300  may know if it is pointed in the direction of the smart firearm  300  owner by signals communicated between the system components. This may prevent the owner from having their smart firearm  300  used against them by an assailant. A smart firearm  300  owner may also be prevented from trying to use their smart firearm  300  to commit suicide. 
     The firearm safety system  100  may bring smart weapon technology to citizens of the world. For the first time no gun safety zones  202  may be established, thereby preventing any smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400  from being discharged inside the safety zone  202  while simultaneously alerting law officers of a public safety threat. If smart firearm  300  and smart magazine  400  equipped weapons were the only weapons allowed in public, the government could create safety nets over sensitive public areas. Citizens may have the freedom and responsibility to have a smart weapon in public, but they could pose no threat to protected no gun safety zone  202  sites. The firearm safety system  100  directly attempts to combat gun violence in the public while still allowing citizens to utilize their 2 nd  Amendment rights. 
     An exemplary embodiment of a smart magazine  400  is illustrated in  FIG. 6 . The smart magazine  400  may be designed for every make and caliber of gun magazine. It may be used to replace any magazines that gun owners would be allowed to carry in public. Any gun equipped with a smart magazine  400  may be used in conjunction with the gun owner&#39;s smart phone app  208  connecting the smart magazine  400  to the tracking system  200 . The smart magazine  400  may be used in any unrestricted public area or designated space. If the gun owner were to approach an established safety zone  202 , their phone  206  would alert them to disarm their weapon. Crossing the established safety perimeter  204  would automatically lockdown the smart magazine  400  and simultaneously alert local law officers, thereby preventing any public threat. 
     The automatic safety lock  401  may be located in any appropriate location on the smart magazine  400 , depending upon where the safety lock may best fit. In an exemplary embodiment and with reference to  FIG. 6 , the smart magazine  400  components may be located within the magazine base  402 , between the magazine base  402  and the locking plate  404 . The locking plate  404  may also be attached to a magazine follower  406  via a magazine spring  408 . The smart magazine  400  may include various electronic and telecommunication components, such as a microprocessor  410 , a firearm tracking component  412  (such as a GPS unit), a transmitter  414 , a receiver  416 , a battery  418  and an input port  420 , such as for charging the battery  418  if needed. The smart magazine  400  may also include a switch  422 , a relay  424  and a motor  426  connected to an automatic safety lock  401 , as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     The microprocessor unit in the smart magazine  400  may have the GPS coordinates for any established safety perimeters  204 . If a firearm equipped with a smart magazine  400  entered a safety perimeter  204 , the smart magazines microprocessor  410  may order the smart magazine  400  to execute the automatic safety lockdown procedure, which may activate the lock motor switch  422  to move the automatic safety lock bar  401  into position locking the magazine follower  406  in place. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the magazine follower  406  may be prevented from feeding ammunition  428  to the weapon, thereby rendering the firearm inoperable. Simultaneously, the microprocessor  410  on the smart magazine  400  in communication with the smart tracking unit or smart phone  206  may transmit the location and any pertinent information to law authorities by using the tracking system&#39;s  200  remote server  110 . 
     Any magazine fed weapon or firearm may utilize the smart magazine  400 . Any gun equipped with the smart magazine  400  may be used in conjunction with the smart tracking app  208  on the user&#39;s smart phone  206 . The smart magazine  400  may be used in any unrestricted public area or designated space. If the smart magazine  400  owner were to approach an established safety zone  202  their smart phone  206  may alert them to deactivate their weapon. Crossing the safety perimeter  204  into the safety zone  202  would automatically lockdown the smart magazine  400 , thereby rendering it inoperable and simultaneously alerting local law enforcement officers. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, once a person violates a safety zone  202 , the tracking system  200  may transmit a satellite  210  signal to the receiver on the smart magazine  400  unit. The microprocessor  410  may then move the switch  422  to move the magazine follower  406  safety lock bar  401  into the lock position. The lock mechanism may slide the magazine follower  406  automatic safety lock bar  401  into position inside a hole on the magazine follower  406 . The smart magazine  400  may then be locked and inoperable because the magazine follower  406  and spring  408  may be locked in place, thereby making the smart magazine  400  unable to feed the weapon ammunition  428 . 
     The smart magazine  400  may be configured for every make and model, caliber and magazine type. To initially establish use of the firearm safety system  100 , all gun magazines produced prior to the smart magazine  400  being introduced into the market may be retrofitted or may be relegated to use on private property. Once all weapon owners are required to have smart magazines  400  in public, safety zones  202  may then be established worldwide. Subsequently, every weapon produced in the near future may contain smart firearm  300  technology inside its frame  306 , thereby making every gun owner safe, accountable and thus removing the threat to sensitive public areas. 
     The smart magazine  400  may make any magazine fed weapon capable of being smart or being locked via the computer processing unit or microprocessor  410 . The smart magazine  400  may prevent public threats by any weapon equipped with a smart magazine  400 . Using the smart magazine  400  owner&#39;s smart phone  206  may help ensure their identity as well as make the weapon owner accountable. If any smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400  equipped weapon is discharged, the local law officers would be notified of the disturbance and the exact location and be dispatched to provide any assistance needed. 
     A major benefit is that the smart magazine  400  may make all older magazine fed weapons owner&#39;s accountable and safe in public areas and diminishes public threats. The only drawback that has been found with the smart magazine  400 , is that a weapon with a smart magazine  400  may, however, still be fired once, or have each round chambered separately. 
     A smart magazine  400  owner must have a mobile tracking unit, or smart phone  206  with the smart tracking phone application  208 . To activate the smart magazine  400 , an individualized pass code combination may be entered into the tracking unit or phone app  208 . A smart magazine  400  may be developed and configured for every make, model and caliber size. 
     The smart magazine  400  may allow the law abiding citizen to be free to legally carry his or her firearm equipped with a smart magazine  400  in any unrestricted area. However, if the gun owner approaches 1,000 feet of any safety perimeter  204  with an activated smart magazine  400 , the smart tracking app  208  may warn them to legally deactivate their smart magazine  400 . It may be suggested that larger caliber firearms with more effective ranges should have a larger distance in between the safety perimeter  204  and protected facility  102 . For example, .50 caliber may have a 6,000 foot established safety perimeter  204  and a 9 mm may have a 3,000 foot safety perimeter  204 . 
     In an exemplary embodiment, a smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400  owner may have a smart tracking mobile unit, or smart phone  206  with the smart tracking phone application  208 . To activate the gun an individualized pass code combination may be entered into the smart tracking unit or phone app  208 . The law abiding citizen may be free to legally carry his firearm in any unrestricted area. However, if the gun owner approaches 1,000 feet of a safety perimeter  204  his or her smart tracking unit  206  may warn him to legally deactivate the weapon. The microprocessor unit  302  in the firearm may have the GPS coordinates for the safety perimeter  204 . If the firearm owner entered the safety perimeter  204 , the microprocessor  302  may order the smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400  into automatic lockdown mode rendering the firearm and magazine inoperable. Simultaneously, the smart tracking unit  206  may transmit a Safety Zone Violation to local authorities to alert law officers and speed up response time. 
     Each smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400  may have a GPS tracker  308 ,  412  located within it, being provided with a GPS receiving circuit  312 ,  416 , a microprocessor  302 ,  410  and a signal transmission circuit  310 ,  414 . Information may be transmitted to a microprocessor unit  302 ,  410  in each smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400 . Each smart firearm  300  and smart magazine  400  may be equipped with a GPS tracking system  308 ,  412 , the GPS tracker may be provided with a GPS receiving circuit, a microprocessor and a signal transmission circuit. The microprocessor may be separately connected to the GPS receiving circuit and the signal transmission circuit. 
     The GPS receiving circuit may be able to receive geographic positioning satellite  210  coordinate signals, and then the geographic positioning satellite  210  coordinate signals may be matched with an internal pre-stored geographic database to obtain the position of the smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400 , whereupon the position may then transmitted to the microprocessor. The microprocessor may obtain the position of the smart gun  300  or smart magazine  400  from the GPS receiving circuit, and may obtain the circumstances of the safety zone violation, whereupon the microprocessor  302 ,  410  may execute the automatic safety lock of the smart firearm  300  and smart magazine  400 . Accordingly, the signal transmission circuit may transmit the information obtained to a remote server  110 , which may notify the relevant authorities, thereby completely disabling the smart firearm  300  and smart magazine  400  and alerting law officers. 
     If a smart firearm  300  violates an established safety perimeter  204 , the microprocessor  302  transmits the location of the smart firearm  300  to authorities via the tracking system&#39;s  200  remote server  110 . Simultaneously, the microprocessor  302  on the smart firearm  300  or smart magazine  400  may execute the automatic lockdown procedure. The microprocessor unit  410  may engage the smart magazine  400  follower automatic safety lock bar  401  into the lock position disabling the magazine until law officers can arrive. The microprocessor  302  may also engage the trigger automatic safety lock  304  on the smart firearm  300  with the lock location depending on the make and caliber. As discussed above, a smart firearm  300  automatic safety lock may be located on the sear pin  324 , grip safety  332 , or near the locking block  336 . 
     Although the embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments disclosed, but that the invention described herein is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the claims hereafter.