Belgian police issue alert about foldable gun that looks like a phone
Remember that handgun that folds up to look like a smartphone? Belgian police have reportedly issued an alert for the transforming gun as the weapon inches closer to launching in the U.S.
According to the Dernière Heure newspaper, Belgian police are concerned the Ideal Conceal Pistol will be illegally imported into Europe.
From afar, the gun, when folded up, is difficult to distinguish from a typical smartphone.
The double-barreled .380-caliber derringer, which can fire two bullets and has a laser sight, was originally slated to launch in 2016, but production issues delayed it until "early 2017."
Kirk Kjellberg, the creator of the smartphone-shaped gun, says he now expects the gun to go into production in March.
"We have two more rounds of prototyping to do, mostly to lighten up the pistol; so it's easy and fun to carry all the while maintaining superior structural integrity," Kjellberg wrote in a Facebook post on Jan. 5. "I never got into this for money. My passion and motivation come from my desire to arm everyone who wants to always carry a gun be able do so with stealth, pride and most importantly trust."
Ideal Conceal has reportedly received 12,000 pre-orders for the foldable gun, which is priced at $395.
While not the first foldable gun, the fact that this gun resembles a smartphone and can be carried around virtually undetected has many people and authorities freaking out.
Kjellberg says his intentions for creating the gun come from a desire for more personal security.
From the company's website:
Specializing in concealed weaponry, we aim to deliver a high-quality handgun that can be deployed very quickly for the defense of you or your family.
The idea for Ideal Conceal follows the present-day demand for handguns that people can carry on a day to day basis, in a manner that makes carrying a gun easy to do. From soccer moms to professionals of every type, this gun allows you the option of not being a victim.
Our mission is to promote security and public safety by designing and manufacturing innovative and unparalleled products engineered to protect.
While the alert is reason for Belgian police to stay vigilant, there's no need for the general public to panic just yet.
As Kjellberg said himself, there are still two more rounds of prototyping and then he's got to produce 12,000 units to fulfill pre-orders. While concerns about the gun making it's way to Europe are warranted, the weapon would still fall under all local gun control laws in the United States.
Raymond Wong is Mashable's Senior Tech Correspondent. He reviews gadgets and tech toys and analyzes the tech industry. Raymond's also a bit of a camera geek, gamer, and fine chocolate lover. Before arriving at Mashable, he was the Deputy Editor of NBC Universal's tech publication DVICE. His writing has appeared on G4TV, BGR, Yahoo and Ubergizmo, to name a few. You can follow Raymond on Twitter @raywongy or Instagram @sourlemons.
