A surgical fastener apparatus comprising: a handle having a closure trigger operably supported thereon; an end effector operably coupled to said handle and having a movable anvil supported thereon, said movable anvil movable between open and closed positions in response to open and closing motions applied to the closure trigger; an actuator movable within said end effector between an unactuated position to actuated positions within said end effector; an electric motor operably interfacing with said actuator to selectively apply a distal driving motion thereto to move said actuator from said unactuated position to said actuated positions and to selectively apply a proximal driving motion to said actuator to retract said actuator to said unactuated position from said actuated positions; a power source connected to said motor for electrically powering the motor; a firing trigger operably supported on said handle and movable between actuated and unactuated positions; a firing switch coupled to said power source and said motor and interfacing with said firing trigger such that, upon movement of said firing trigger from said unactuated position to said actuated positions, said firing switch permits current to flow to said motor to apply said distal driving motion to said actuator; and wherein the apparatus further comprises a latch movably coupled to said handle and configured to releaseably retain said closure trigger in said locked position and the apparatus is characterized in that it comprises a closure lock switch connected to said power source and said motor such that when said closure trigger is retained in a locked position wherein said anvil is retained in said closed position, said closure lock switch permits current to flow from said power source to said motor and when said closure trigger is not in said locked position, said closure lock switch prevents current from flowing from said power source to said motor, and wherein said closure lock switch is mounted to said latch. a handle having a closure trigger operably supported thereon; an end effector operably coupled to said handle and having a movable anvil supported thereon, said movable anvil movable between open and closed positions in response to open and closing motions applied to the closure trigger; an actuator movable within said end effector between an unactuated position to actuated positions within said end effector; an electric motor operably interfacing with said actuator to selectively apply a distal driving motion thereto to move said actuator from said unactuated position to said actuated positions and to selectively apply a proximal driving motion to said actuator to retract said actuator to said unactuated position from said actuated positions; a power source connected to said motor for electrically powering the motor; a firing trigger operably supported on said handle and movable between actuated and unactuated positions; a firing switch coupled to said power source and said motor and interfacing with said firing trigger such that, upon movement of said firing trigger from said unactuated position to said actuated positions, said firing switch permits current to flow to said motor to apply said distal driving motion to said actuator; and wherein the apparatus further comprises a latch movably coupled to said handle and configured to releaseably retain said closure trigger in said locked position and the apparatus is characterized in that it comprises a closure lock switch connected to said power source and said motor such that when said closure trigger is retained in a locked position wherein said anvil is retained in said closed position, said closure lock switch permits current to flow from said power source to said motor and when said closure trigger is not in said locked position, said closure lock switch prevents current from flowing from said power source to said motor, and wherein said closure lock switch is mounted to said latch.