Gun-control groups in New Jersey and Washington, D.C. are urging a New Jersey court to make the state enforce an unusual law, one that could ultimately ban sales in the state of all handguns that don't embrace some sort of smart technology.

Two groups -- the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and a New Jersey chapter of the Million Mom March -- renewed their arguments in a filing made last week, urging the New Jersey Superior Court to make the state enforce the law.

A bit of background: In 2002, New Jersey passed a law saying that once technology is available to prevent a gun from being used by an unauthorized person, only that type of handgun may be sold in the state.

The New Jersey law, the only one of its kind in the U.S., mandates that within three years from the date such a gun becomes available in any state, all handguns sold in New Jersey must include technology to limit their use to specific people.

Under the law, the New Jersey attorney general is obliged every six months to inquire as to whether such firearms are available, and report back to the governor and state legislature.