CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (March 11, 2026) – Lodestar Technology today announced the launch of the LNK9, a 9mm firearm designed to authorize access before the firearm can be operated. The LNK9 integrates Lodestar’s Safeguard User Interface™, combining biometric authentication and PIN pad access with owner-managed authorization tools in a single, proven, and trusted platform.
The concept for the LNK9 stemmed from Co-Founder and CEO Gareth Glaser’s vision to integrate advanced safety technology into a reliable platform. He joined forces with firearms industry expert Ginger Chandler, Co-Founder and CTO of Lodestar. “The LNK9 represents a major leap forward in personal protection,” said Chandler. “By embedding advanced biometric safeguards directly into a proven platform, we’ve created a firearm that’s as secure as it is reliable. This is about empowering owners while protecting families and communities, and using technology responsibly to do so. Safety of this kind has never been available before.”
How the Platform Works
The LNK9 verifies the user’s access before the firearm can be operated. The Safeguard User Interface integrates multiple methods of user authentication and owner authorization management.
- Biometric LandingPad™. Fingerprint recognition embedded in the grip verifies authorized users.
- PIN Pad Activation. A secondary authentication method allows access through a secure PIN entry.
- Lodestar Technology Mobile Application. Owners can add or remove authorized users and adjust settings through a Bluetooth-connected mobile application compatible with iOS, Android and Google devices.
- InfoLights™. Integrated LED indicators display authentication status, battery level, and firearm readiness.
- Multiple Authorized Users. The system supports storage of up to 50 authorized fingerprints.
Technical Features
- Caliber – 9mm
- Magazine Capacity – 17-round or 10-round configuration, depending on preference or state compliance
- Compact Crossover – Compact slide paired with a full-size frame
- Frame – Polymer
- Picatinny Rail
- Left or Right Side Configuration of the Biometric LandingPad, depending on user preference
- Reversible Magazine Release
Personally authenticated firearms have drawn skepticism in the past, often tied to concerns about reliability, privacy, and outside influence. Lodestar built the LNK9 platform to address those concerns directly, with a clear focus on owner authority, independent operation, and privacy.
Built for Owner Control
This section addresses common assumptions about individually verified firearms and explains how the system is designed to protect the owner’s control and privacy.
- The LNK9 does not have GPS tracking capabilities, keeping the firearm fully private to the owner.
- The LNK9 functions as a fully self-contained system and does not connect to government, law enforcement, or third-party networks. No outside party has access to the firearm or its settings.
- Only authorized users designated by the owner can activate and operate the firearm. The system cannot be enabled, disabled, or operated remotely by anyone outside those authorized users.
- Biometric identity verification is processed and stored locally within the firearm. The system is not cloud-dependent, keeping biometric data private and contained on the device.
- The owner retains full authority over user authorization and determines who is permitted to operate
the firearm.
“We believe safety innovation should come from people who understand firearms,” said Laurel Smith, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development of Lodestar. “We respect choice, tradition, and safety. As firearm industry veterans, we’re taking this responsibility seriously.”
The LNK9 represents Lodestar’s first commercial firearm platform and reflects the company’s focus on integrating access verification technology into modern firearm design while maintaining performance, reliability, and owner authority. The LNK9 is available for purchase on the Lodestar Technology website, for $979.99 MSRP.
About Lodestar Technology
Headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Lodestar Technology is led by experts from a wide range of industries, including technology, firearms, manufacturing, and defense. Its leadership brings decades of experience focused on developing next-generation tools to address modern security challenges.
At Lodestar, we’re building more than technology. We’re creating a new standard in safety and security: engineering solutions that make the world safer, without compromising performance or freedom. With a commitment to modernization, safety, and design, we’re leading the transformation, not following trends.
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