Posted on 04/26/2005 8:27:23 PM PDT by LouAvul
SACRAMENTO (AP) - A proposal to put a serial number on every handgun bullet passed a Senate committee Tuesday and law enforcement officials said they hoped the novel effort would spread to other states.
The measure cleared the Senate Public Safety Committee Tuesday on a 4-2 vote over opposition from sportsmen, firearms dealers and manufacturers who said it is impractical and would harm law-abiding citizens.
The technology now exists to laser-cut each bullet with a serial number, said Sen. Joseph Dunn, D-Garden Grove, who is carrying the bill. Police would immediately be able to trace who purchased bullets used in crimes. Purchasers would pay up to a halfpenny per bullet to fund record-keeping by the state Department of Justice on every handgun-caliber bullet made or sold in California. Vendors would pay up to $50 a year to register. Rifle ammunition would be exempted, though some calibers are used in both handguns and long guns.
"We'll solve a lot of crimes if this becomes law," said Attorney General Bill Lockyer, who supported the bill. "This proposal is kind of like DNA science applied to ballistics."
He acknowledged criminals could find ways around the law, but said milk, medicine, soda cans and most other things sold in stores have identification numbers.
"Why not bullets?" he said.
Lawrence Keane, general counsel of the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute Inc., said American manufacturers produce 8 billion bullets a year, 15 million a day. They would have to either stop selling in California or rebuild ammunition plants at a cost of hundred of millions of dollars, he said, disputing far lower cost estimates by proponents.
(Excerpt) Read more at sacbee.com ...
How stupid...sheesh...just create a market for reloaders like me...bring it on.
I rejoice that I no longer live in that state.
Lotsa luck.
Is she talking about stamping a number on the bullet? Most bullets deform on impact. What the hell is she smoking?
I think for once and for all we need a pre-emption concept to SQUAsh all these asinine anti-secondment amendment laws.
States like WAckofornia must not be allowed to use their size to bully regulations onto other more sensible states.
Wow!!! Now they'll be able to solve every gun crime that ever happens and we'll all live forever in a perfect world!
It looks like Chris Rock's idea about "bullet control" instead of "gun control" is starting to take hold. All they need to do now is raise the price to $5000 per bullet.
What retards. It takes all of five seconds to abrade them off.
Even if they put the serial number on the case, all you have to do is take the case with you. Of course, they will just make it a felony to possess a spent bullet casing once they figure this out.
Wow - putting little numerals on bullets will do all that? Well, not unless the distributor is forced to keep records on who he sends the lots to and the retailer is forced to keep a list of who he sells the ammunition to. Not that this could properly described as a registration program or anything...
They're either idiots, or they think we're idiots, or both.
Am I the only person who thinks there's a 'hidden agenda' behind some of the anti-lead laws and policies?
Of course to trace who bought them would require each lot of ammo to be tracked including the name and address of the buyer, and each sale recorded and reported to the state. The cost and red tape would simply result in gun dealers no longer selling handgun ammo (much of which can also be used in rifles). The result is that handgun ammo would simply be unavailable in CA. Which of course is the real goal of this bill. Meanwhile criminals would simply import ammo from neighboring states.
Pol-gun-grabbers-grabbing headlines ping
There is no "hidden agenda". The agenda is right out front. What is working here is sheer idiocy. Pure and simple idiocy.
or they will do what blank CD makers have done with "data cd"s vs "blank music cd"s, we will have bullets all labeled for "rifle use only".
How do they ever get elected to office? And shouldn't they have some type of expert to tell them that this won't work?
I've never fired a gun in my life, but that doesn't mean I know nothing about metal working. They must simply think that they govern over idiots and simpletons.
Perhaps all CF officials should be GPS lojacked by force of law. We need to protect them from associating with the wrong people.
The public has a right to know where their elected officials are EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF EVERY DAY!
lets see how they like it.
Is this guy really this stupid?
But you still buy commercial bullets for your reloads do you not -- or do you cast your own? I think they want a serial on the actual bullet, not on the case.
Ordering my molds tomorrow.
What nimrods! Wasting tax dollars again, for no bloody good reason. Bullets deform on impact, thus "erasing" serial numbers. They'd be better served painting little clown faces on them. What dimwits!
A test of 200 rounds fired from close range into walls, car doors, bulletproof vests, rubber matting and a gel designed to simulate a human target convinced him the technology is sound.Of 181 slugs recovered – including soft lead bullets that largely flattened out – the tiny code could be read on 180 of them with a simple electronic magnifying scope.
The measure cleared the Keep-Citizens-Safe-From-Meddling-Idiots Committee Tuesday on a 5-0 vote over opposition from pacifists, peaceniks, dope-smoking withoutACLUe members and assorted primates who said it hurts their feelings and would make them break out in hives and acne at the mere thought of someone defending themselves without government permission.
The technology now exists to laser-cut each Democrat with a serial number, said Joseph Citizen, member-NRA, who is pushing the bill. Voters would immediately be able to trace who passed legislation further protecting criminals and burdening citizens with additional nanny rules. Legislators would pay up to a $50,000 per stupid idea to fund additional defeats of nuanced, hypocritical, snobby, blow-dried elitist presidential candidates coming from Massachusetts and New York/Arkansas. Legislators would pay up to $500,000 a year to register. Tax-cut, pro-America, pro-military, anti-UN legislation would be exempted, though some democRATS use such legislation to sneak in socialist agendas benefitting their allies in China, Germany, North Korea, Hollywood, Iran, France, and assorted terrorists organizations.
"We'll kill a lot of stupid tie-dyed hippy crap if this becomes law," said Bill Lockinload, who supported the bill. "This proposal is kind of like stink on poo."
He acknowledged criminals/democRATS will find ways around the law by exploiting the Judiciary, but said that the concept of food stamps, WIC cards, drivers licenses for illegals and most other things pushed by liberal democrats are always easily tracked back to their source.
"Why not track democRATS" he said.
>:)
Me too. I moved out in 97.
This is BS. If this is even seriously being considered, it has nothing to do with tracing down criminals. There is no chain of evidence. Everyone could just go to swap meets. Anyway, its about circumventing the Constitution and driving up the cost of ammunition...Just another Brady and HGC ploy.
It's almost funny. I feel a bit sorry for anyone who thinks this is a good idea. This is soooo bad.
They want to reduce gun crime? Then why do they keep letting the violent criminals out of jail? Probably not malice. Just stupidity.
democrat = stupid
stupid like a fox, he thinks the PUBLIC IS THAT sTUPID.
Bullet casting isn't exactly high tech.
Un f'ing believable.
Given his first premise; shouldn't the question be. . ."WHY guns/'
See this as kind of profiling of a certain class of American's. . .a singling out of those with a 'special interest' . . .an intimidation of sorts. . .a corporate hi-jacking as well. . .
And of course, this is just another 'slippery slope solution'. . .the kind that serves Liberals best. . .as they want us all on the fast track to their Liberal/communist hell...
Say Lou, can I borrow some ammo? (I gotta go see my ex wife)
Another of liberalism's hot, steaming loads..
Tell me you emailed that to him... :-)
In this case, it's overt. But the requirements regarding disposal of things like lead wheel weights, etc. are based on an agenda beyond environmentalism.
:)
It IS kind of fun to envision, though...
"We'll solve a lot of crimes if this becomes law," said Attorney General Bill Lockyer, who supported the bill. "This proposal is kind of like DNA science applied to ballistics."
Lockyear is an Idiot! bullets mash up and break apart.
this is a scam and will only lead to more violations or our Rights!
lockyear should be arrested for Treason!!!
Lockyer is even a bigger idiot than I thought.
It won't solve a thing.
once again, the communists of the calif. democratic party tries to undermine the U.S. Constitution. Too bad this communist wasn't interested in telling the public about the criminal (professional check kiting) by his fellow communist babs boxer when she was running for her re-election.
And if you were to "lose" your bullets or ammo and someone else were to "find" or buy some ammo from a "friendly stranger that you never saw again that had "your" numbers on them?
Carnac see a great big market in lost and found and unregistered ammo and bullets.
That's the ticket. Don't serial number the ammo which means it can't be sold in California. Print on each box:
Manufacturer's warning: This ammunition is not to sold or used in California. Purchaser assumes all responsibility for complying with all applicable state and federal laws.
What are they going to do when the police can't buy ammo?
This idea goes back to at least 1996 in California, and maybe earlier. I don't know which anti-gun group first thought this up (my bet would be either Garen Wintemute or the VPC, but that's pure speculation).
Even then, the idea was advanced with only the thinnest veneer of "crime tracing" as a justification. That's there for the gullible and half-awake. The purpose is exactly the same as the thrice-defeated bullet tax idea: to increase the cost, and drastically reduce the availability of ammuntion. You'll note the 1/2 cent "fee"* is tied directly to an information registry -- so it can be passed with a simple-majority vote, rather than the 2/3rds required for a revenue measure.
This could easily get through the legislature. It's up to Arnie to veto it in that case (doesn't that give you a nice warm feeling?)
I pray that Kalefornia votes this into law. They will need a Cray to keep up with the bullet serial numbers, and an additional beaurocracy equivalent to the one they already have. Think of the employment opportunities- they could even use migrants! How glorius! Everybody employed! No more crime on the streets!
Who'da thunk it?
Kalipolidiots need to be sued for wasting ........everything.
That's IT!!! Chronic wasting disease!
Explains everything.
Not to mention produce a state held list of all handgun owners. It's a threefer!
Uh...... no.
Actually in the base I believe. But laser etched, not stamped. Of course the base will deform as well, but much less than the rest of the bullet.
1/2 cent per round? That's about 25% on the cheapest .22 long rifle ammunition. .22 long rifle represents the vast majority of cartridges sold in the US, and presumably in California as well. It's a revenue measure disguised as gun control. :)
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