In a country where portions of the population strongly embrace the second amendment right to bear arms, it is no surprise that gun violence is an issue in America. And as mass shootings continue to rise, it is calling attention to the need for reform and regulation. While some people call for legislation, one Howard University student created a product in an attempt to curb gun violence.
Howard University student Kayla Austin invented My Gun’s Been Moved, which is a patent-pending service that focuses on reducing gun violence with a focus on children. Austin’s creation runs on a motto of “prevent tragedy without sacrificing privacy” and aims to provide awareness and self-defense without compromise. The technology relies on a smart pad where the gun will sit and an app to track the gun’s movements.
A firearm is considered “in place” when it is placed on the pad in a location in the home and it will register as “in place” on the app. However, the system goes into “alert mode” when the gun is removed from the pad in a location in the home and the user will begin receiving notifications on their phone. The pad is currently offered in two colors (black and brown) for $100 each.
Austin is a Chicago native and has been an inspiring inventor from an early age. She began brainstorming the concept of what is now “My Gun’s Been Moved” at the age of 12. Austin found her passion for combating gun violence after learning that a relative accidentally shot herself with a gun as a child. She also credits her participation in an NAACP youth program as part of her reason for pursuing the idea of helping both parents and children practice gun safety.
The patent-pending system has garnered Austin much acclaim. She was selected as 1 of 50 African American girls to participate in the Black Girls Lead program at Columbia and the BET Black Girls Rock Televised program. The young inventor was also a member of the 25 Dream in Black Rising Future Makers inaugural cohort and was selected as one of Teen Vogue’s 21 Under 21 features. In addition to all of her other accolades, Austin was a recipient of $25,000 from Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition Prize. Austin’s invention has even been acknowledged by both the State of Illinois and The White House.
Despite receiving positive feedback on the invention, Austin still has not accumulated the needed funds to complete and launch the product. Interested investors can make a donation to the device’s GoFundMe and help Austin reach her $200,000 funding goal.
