Weapons firing safeties and methods of operating the same

A shooting facility comprising:

• a shooting area;
• and
• a weapon safety system in which the enabling of a weapon to shoot is controlled by means of an exchange of identification between a weapon and an enabling apparatus, the system comprising:
• a weapon comprising:
• a weapon identification code;
• and
• a safety device;
• and
• an enabling apparatus, wherein the enabling apparatus is designed to capture the weapon identification code and to transmit an enabling signal to the safety device in the weapon, wherein a control unit controls the enabling device and includes an identification memory that includes at least one registered weapon identification;
• wherein, upon receiving a control signal from the enabling apparatus, the weapon transmits an identification signal containing the weapon identification code;
• wherein the enabling apparatus sends a weapon-enabling signal if the weapon identification code matches at least one of the registered weapon identification;
• and
• wherein the enabling apparatus may change the identification code.

A weapon for use in a weapon safety system that includes an enabling apparatus with a memory that includes at least one registered weapon identification, the weapon comprising:

• a weapon identification code;
• and
• a safety device;
• and
• wherein, upon receiving a control signal from the enabling apparatus, the weapon transmits an identification signal containing the weapon identification code, and wherein the weapon receives a weapon-enabling signal to enable the weapon to shoot if the weapon identification code matches at least one of the registered weapon identification, and wherein the enabling apparatus may change the identification code.

A method for enabling a weapon to shoot comprising:

• transmitting a control signal from an enabling apparatus;
• receiving the control signal at a weapon;
• transmitting a weapon identification code from a weapon;
• receiving the weapon identification code at the enabling apparatus;
• comparing the weapon identification code to one or more registered weapon identifications;
• and
• transmitting an enabling signal to the weapon if the weapon identification code matches one more of the registered weapon identifications, wherein the enabling apparatus may change the identification code.