World's first smart gun featuring fingerprint unlocking hits the market

• The gun has been in development for more than a decade, with CEO and founder Kai Kloepfer telling Bloomberg he started working on the project following the Aurora theater shooting in 2012.

What they're saying: "That was really my first sort of encounter with the topic…and really started to think about, 'How we can do something about this?'" Kloepfer told Bloomberg.

• The company raised $14 million in Series A funding last fall.

Details: The gun uses fingerprints and 3D, infrared facial recognition technology to allow only authorized people to shoot it.

• The gun automatically locks when it leaves the authorized person's hand.
• It's powered by a rechargeable, lithium-ion battery, and uses encryption technology to ensure it can't be modified into a conventional handgun.

The intrigue: The 9mm handgun is designed for home defense, and to prevent firearm deaths among children, Kloepfer said in a statement.

• Gun deaths among America's children rose 50% in the last two years.

The cost: The gun can be preordered with a refundable $149 deposit, and will cost $1,499.