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High-Tech Gun May Help Emergency Responders
Rockville Company Develops Gun To Detect Meth
ROCKVILLE, Md. -- A high-tech gun may help first responders immediately identify illegal drugs and dangerous substances.
The instrument, called a meth gun, looks like a radar gun and may soon help first responders check for crystal methamphetamine.
The gun is being is being developed by CDEX, a Rockville, Md., company.
Chuck Foster, of CDEX, said the prototype meth gun works by exciting atoms with ultra-violet light so they give off photons. The gun detects the photons and matches their frequency to the meth's expected frequency. Once the trigger is pulled, a green light means the substance safe; red means a crystal has been found.
Foster said many groups are expressing interest in the safety angle of the device.
"A number of firefighters and hazmat teams looking to get additional information about this technology (are interested)," Foster said.
Foster said the meth gun can give officers a probable cause to test chemicals they find.
"They can collect those samples, not have to destroy parts of them for a field test, collect them into evidence, submit them to the state lab or medical examiners for final testing and improve their safety with highly reliable analysis," Foster said.
Later versions of the device are expected to be networked, allowing officials to identify a long list of illicit drugs.
