Posted on 04/30/2009 1:33:36 PM PDT by neverdem
Bill awaits Senate action to help trace pistols; opponents question cost, effectiveness
ALBANY — As the state Assembly passes a number of gun control measures, members of the newly Democratic state Senate joined gun control advocates to push for a proposal to mandate "microstamping" on semiautomatic pistols sold in the state. "This is a tough-on-crime, smart-on-crime proposal," said Sen. Eric Schneiderman, D-New York City, who is shepherding the measure through the Senate.
The plan, originally put forth by Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, D-Great Neck, already passed in the lower house, where Democrats hold a 109-to-41 majority.
But with the Senate this year under a new 32-to-30 Democratic majority, advocates are hoping microstamping and other gun measures will pass there as well.
Microstamping is a process in which lasers put a distinctive mark on a weapon's firing pin. That mark is then etched into each cartridge casing when the gun is fired. Supporters including police and prosecutors say it could help them better match shell casings to a given weapon.
But the plan has opponents too, including representatives of gun manufacturers who question whether the stamps couldn't be tampered with by criminals.
Others say they fear it would add to the cost of weapons, although proponents say microstamping would add a few dollars at most.
Either way, some of the upstate-downstate divisions on this issue were on display at the Capitol on Wednesday.
Shortly after the news conference promoting microstamping, gun enthusiasts — including many from upstate — gathered at the Capitol to lobby lawmakers against enacting the proposal.
The Schneiderman-Schimel proposal would mandate microstamping for handguns made after Jan. 1, 2011.
California has passed a similar law that takes effect in 2010.
Rick Karlin can be reached at (518) 454-5758 or rkarlin@timesunion.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Thanks for the ping!
Time to open a new store, Firing Pins ‘R’ US...
I’ve heard that gangbangers just stick their hand with a gun in it into a plastic bag like you get in a supermarket. After you shoot you just pull your hand and gun out and the casings remain in the bag. How about that. Another problem solved.
Remington is located in Mayfield, KY now. So at least they’ve moved.
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