SECURE SMARTPHONE-OPERATED GUN LOCK WITH MEANS FOR OVERRIDING RELEASE OF THE LOCK

A gun locking and unlocking device, which may be configured to be disposed adjacent the trigger of a gun to alternatively prevent or enable firing, includes a data receiver, a data memory and a logic device for determining whether data received by the receiver is the same, or substantially the same, as data stored in the data memory. One or more separate electronic gun keys are provided to transmit gun lock/unlock data to the data receiver of the gun lock device. The logic device responds to a gun control signal transmitted by one of the gun key devices with priority over a gun control signal transmitted by another gun key device. The logic device automatically locks the gun when it is located in a proscribed area, such as within a school zone or outside a prescribed protected area. The logic device also locks the gun when the gun user is intoxicated or acting in an irrational manner. Once locked, the user must set a timer which allows the gun to be unlocked only after a specified "wait" time. In case of emergency, when the gun must be available for immediate use, the user can override the safety features and unlock the gun by speaking a "secret word" or phrase.