Robert at the TheTruthAboutGuns.com blogged that smart gun maker Armatix GmbH patented a system that can (in theory) remotely enable or disable a firearm via. a satellite. An extract from the patent is below …

Preferably the device, such as a clock, also equipped with a GPS satellite transmitter and meadow preferably covers at least one of the following functions:

Operating conditions, such as a weapon (who, when fired) are placed on the establishment of the satellite to a central office

Target means, for example a weapon, the device can, for example, a clock can be remotely activated

Target device, such as a gun can be unlocked by means of a built-in GPS transmitter in it only in certain places.

…

Either the controller or the external device, or both may have their own power supply. This energy can be either a battery, a fuel cell, a piezoelectric cell or a solar cell comprising. In a preferred embodiment, both feature, the control unit and the transponder has its own battery. If either the control unit or the transponder does not have its own energy supply, via the wireless communication link not only data, but also power is transmitted.

This idea is a very bad one if ever brought to fruition. It opens the door to a great deal of abuse, and such a satellite “kill-switch” would be vulnerable to foreign hacking. I seriously don’t think a smart gun is a good idea if it can be deactivated remotely by a hacker.