I hope they do extensive research on the health effects of this and post it openly for all to see. I don't know what is more annoying, the potential for these things to give us cancer or how the hippies and conspiracy theorists react to it.
Also fake studies can be seen from a mile away even when perfectly done. Though on the other hand no matter what pretty much all those hippies and conspiracy theorists will say it's fake.

I think this could definately be a game changer as far detecting threats in public or even private area's before it happens.
But i really worry about how intrusive this will be, i can just picture security personal picking out people at public events or places and taking them away to be scanned, and only a fraction of the time that person having anything dangerous on them.
I know people on one side will say that catching that fraction makes it all worthwhile, and the other side will say its not. For me i think it depends entirely where and when its used.

As far as privacy goes, object recognition algorithms can be developed to automate the scanning of individuals.

The problem stays. Guns aren't the only objects made of metal. Some clothes or boots contain it, as well.
Though, the idea is awesome. The concept is simple and if it indeed takes seconds to analyse the data, there is a huge potential here.

"still be some metal" ... unless it's ceramic.

Now if they can get rid of that pesky constitutional provision against illegal search!

If this works, it would take away the last "reason" gun proponents keep harping at people: "Anyone could be a bad guy carrying a gun, thus I must be free to have one ...blah blah".
Picture this: Have these detectors at hidden locations, mobile units in trucks, under roadways or hidden behind a garden wall.
So now every bad guy can be pulled out and have his gun taken away. Good guys get to keep theirs: they are legal after all. The bad guys will start carrying radar detectors, making themselves even more visible by suddenly making u-turns at spots where they detect radar. Sweet!
So before you know it there will be zones that can safely be labeled "legal gun owners in here only", but: What if now the good guys are asked, too, to hand over their guns? After all, some public shootings were done with legal, registered guns carried by their rightful owners. And if there are no bad guys with guns, "good" guys (none of which has ever stopped any of these mass shootings, but let's ignore that a sec) don't need a gun any more, either.
A nightmare for the NRA: Truly gun-free zones. No more reason for having any guns, at all. Not even a blunderbuss.

Many modern firearms are not made of metal

and watch the glock walk thru whilst my 20 round 9mm baby desert eagle gets caught, me and the baby from IMI, 20 rounds into tactical popup target range in less than 30 seconds, all on perps, no innocents, ten events, no errors

How about Professor Kamal Sarabandi, his family and friends volunteering for a year long testing program with this thing giving them a dose of radiation at frequent intervals each and every day.
Is this going to be used to detect criminals and terrorists with hidden guns or the public going about their business with a gun to give them the self-defence they reasonably wish for.
How many people will die from cancers caused by the radiation this emits compared to people who dies as a result of gun crime?
Mop-up all the propaganda your like telling you the low levels of radiation are not harmful - that's your prerogative - but I do not want to live in a world where I am unknowingly exposed to this dangerous pollution.