Firearms Industry Urges Quick Action in Funding Comprehensive Study of Ballistic Imaging

National Shooting Sports Foundation ^ | October 16, 2002 | NSSF

[justlurking]

 

To: ALL MEDIA For Immediate Release October 16, 2002	For more information contact: Paul Erhardt or Gary Mehalik (203) 426-1320
Firearms Industry Urges Quick Action in Funding Comprehensive Study of Ballistic Imaging NEWTOWN, Conn. -- The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) today called on Congress to move quickly and enact legislation sponsored by U.S. Representative Melissa Hart (R-PA) in the House and U.S. Senator Zell Miller (D-GA) in the Senate that mandates the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a comprehensive study of ballistic imaging technology with the goal of determining its appropriate utilization as a law-enforcement tool. NSSF is the firearms industry trade association representing more than 2,200 businesses involved in all aspects of the hunting and shooting sports. “I know it is very late in the congressional session, but I am calling on the House and Senate to bring up and pass H.R. 3491 and S. 2581, the Ballistic Imaging Evaluation and Study Act of 2002,” stated Doug Painter, president of NSSF. “This legislation will give everyone the scientific facts necessary to determine how ballistic imaging is best utilized in law enforcement. There is a lot of misinformation being circulated in the media and within policy circles that ballistic imaging is ‘DNA for guns,’ and this simply is not true. We need facts and that is what this study will give us.” NSSF is supportive of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) that is administered by of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF). This system analyzes spent bullet casings found at crime scenes to compare marks that could assist in ascertaining if a firearm has been used in multiple crimes. A study by the Bureau of Forensic Services at the California Department of Justice concluded that “automated computer matching [ballistic imaging] systems do not provide conclusive results.” Moreover the study revealed that attempting to increase the number of shell casings through mass sampling of firearms sold in the state would lead to a failure in the system. “The number of candidate cases would be so large as to be impractical and will likely create logistic complications so great that that they can not be effectively addressed,” forensic experts involved in the study wrote. “NSSF shares the concerns highlighted in the California Department of Justice Report. Ballistic imaging is a new forensic technology, it is a tool and not the magic solution for solving firearms crimes as some would like us to believe,” stated Painter. “Our firearm manufacturers work closely with BATF to assist them in solving crimes committed with a firearm. The study outlined in the Ballistic Imaging Evaluation and Study Act will provide scientific conclusions to identified problems and assist in determining how best to utilize this technology and properly allocate vital law enforcement funding.” - 30 -

[justlurking]

BALLISTIC IMAGING
FACT SHEET

What is Ballistic Imaging?

Ballistic imaging technology can be a useful tool in the investigation of crimes committed with firearms. As currently used, forensic experts are able to electronically scan into a database a shell casing(s) recovered from a crime scene to determine if those case(s) match those from other crime scenes. The technology can serve as a starting point in assisting law enforcement in determining if the same firearm was involved in multiple crimes.

The federal government has worked for nearly 10 years on developing an imaging network. The National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), administered by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (BATF), provides federal, state, and local law enforcement officials with critical ballistics information on crimes committed with a firearm. This system matches shell casings recovered from crime scenes to ascertain if a firearm has been used in multiple assaults. By focusing strictly on cases recovered from crime scenes, NIBIN can not be used to build a database of firearms owners thereby guaranteeing the security and legal rights of millions of Americans who are law-abiding gun owners.

How Does it Work?

When a firearm is discharged, both the shell casing and the bullet traveling down the barrel of the gun are imprinted with distinctive marks. The bullet takes on marks from the barrel’s rifling, and the casing is marked by the gun’s breech face, firing pin and shell ejector mechanism (Note: This depends on the type of firearm used. Some guns, such as revolvers or single-shot rifles might not leave ejection marks.) These imprints are distinctive to a firearm. A ballistic imaging program can run a casing through its database and select those that offer a close match. A final identification is made visually by a highly trained ballistic examiner. This process does not lend itself to examining bullets from a firearm. Often, bullets are severely damaged on impact. Bullets recovered are usually examined visually by experts.

Is this “Ballistic DNA” or “Ballistic Fingerprinting”?

Absolutely not. Unlike DNA or fingerprints that do not change over time, the unique marks that can identify a particular bullet or shell casing change due to a number of environmental and use factors. Barrels and operating parts of firearms change with use, wear and tear over time. Moreover, a person can, within minutes, use a file to scratch marks in a barrel or breech face, or replace a firing pin, extractor, and barrel thereby giving a firearm a completely “new” ballistic identity. Imaging remains a tool, but not a silver bullet, in criminal investigations.

What about a National Ballistic Imaging Database?

The creation of a national database that would store ballistic images from all firearms sold would involve huge costs to the government, firearms manufacturers, and customers. It raises questions about a legal “chain of evidence” (i.e., how to handle and store hundreds of millions of bullets or shell casings without exposing all such evidence to attack by defense lawyers), possibly break existing law by creating a database of legal firearms owners, and prove much less effective than NIBIN.

A recent study completed by the California Department of Forensic Services on creating a statewide ballistic imaging network stated that: “When applying this technology to the concept of mass sampling of manufactured firearms, a huge inventory of potential candidates will be generated for manual review. This study indicates that this number of candidate cases will be so large as to be impractical and will likely create logistic complications so great that they can not be effectively addressed.” The study pointed out that when expanding the database of spent shell casings, the system will generate so many “hits” that could be potential matches, it would not be of any use to forensic examiners. Other problems included guns making different markings on casings from different ammunition manufacturers; the shipping, handling, and storage of spent shell casings; some firearms do not leave marks that can be traced back to that particular firearm; and the system demands highly-trained personnel for proper operation.

Maryland and New York Ballistic Imaging Programs

Maryland introduced its own ballistic imaging system in 2000. Every new handgun that is sold in the state must be accompanied by spent shell casings for input into the imaging network. According to Maryland budget figures, approximately $5 million has been spent on the system. According to Maryland law enforcement officials, it contains over 11,000 imaged cartridges, has been queried a total of 155 times and has not been responsible for solving any crimes.

In New York, there have been thousands of cartridges entered into their database and, according to reports, no traces have resulted in criminal prosecutions.

Guns in Private Hands

There are an estimated 260 million firearms in private hands. It would be virtually impossible to retrieve these firearms for ballistics documentation without violating the constitutional rights of millions of law abiding firearms owners.

How Best to Use Ballistic Imaging Technology

There is a proposal in Congress, the Ballistic Imaging Evaluation and Study Act, introduced in both the House and Senate (by Representative Melissa Hart, R-PA, and Senator Zell Miller, D-GA) that orders the Department of Justice to contract for a study by the National Academy of Sciences, which would examine the many questions surrounding imaging technology and provide a list of recommendations to policymakers and Congress. Enacting the legislation to begin this study is a priority. The proper allocation of funds to fight crime is critical to ensuring safe communities. The study outlined in the legislation will provide firm scientific conclusions on which to base decisions on how best to deploy this technology.

[mvpel]

Interesting strategy by the NSSF - basically calling for the government to spend money to find out what they already know, in order to finally put this nonsense to bed once and for all.

[justlurking]

California DoJ Report on Ballistic Imaging

H.R. 3491: Ballistic Imaging Evaluation and Study Act of 2001

[B4Ranch]

Very interesting post. Thank you.

[CHICAGOFARMER]

This a shame website and front for Handgun control Inc and Sara Brady gun control group.

[AStack75]

[Buffalo Head]

"This a shame website and front for Handgun control Inc and Sara Brady gun control group."

It is not! Please do some honest research prior to posting such mis-infomation. The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) is the parent oganization for the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI) which publishes ammunition standards under the wing of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). SAAMI has been in existance since 1926.

[Copernicus]

True enough, the NSSF is or was basically a legitimate organization.

Equally true, they have gotten involved in this kooky expensive triggerlock program which does nothing to impress the public or burnish their image.

Approach what they say and do with the same caution you approach pronouncements from the NRA.

Project Homesafe-Oxymoron

Best regards,

[justlurking]

This a shame website and front for Handgun control Inc and Sara Brady gun control group.

Not the NSSF. You are probably thinking of Americans for Gun Safety.

[glc1173@aol.com]

"Ballistic fingerprinting" is really registration; its proponents don't care if it solves crimes or not - as it would have to "fingerprint" (register) all existing guns to be effective in a market where new sales would be dwarfed for decades to come by the 250 million already out here.

Has registering white Chevy Astro vans solved this case??

Learn how to "unfingerprint" a gun in 20 minutes - with common gun tools!

[Buffalo Head]

SAAMI membership includes A-Square, Alliant Powder, Beretta, Browning, CCI-SPEER, Colt, Eldorado Cartridge, Federal, Fiocchi, Glock, Hodgdon, Hornady, Kahr, Marlin, Mossberg, North American Arms, Remington and St. Marks Powder. If you can't trust that bunch, you are ready for more than a tinfoil hat.

[Buffalo Head]

The SAAMI membership also includes: SigArms, Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Taurus, U.S.Repeating Arms, Weatherby and Winchester.

[CHICAGOFARMER]

then why publish this crap.

Ballastics database is regristration plain and simple.

If your organization is repuking the puke you are no friend of the firearms owners.

You are a traitor at best.

[justlurking]

You are a traitor at best.

Read the article, **censored**. The NSSF is pushing for a study because they know the outcome: that it won't work. They even cited a study by the state of California that already made that conclusion.

The average guy on the street (and in Congress) thinks it's viable because he saw it on "Law and Order". Investing a little effort to separate fantasy from fact is the best way to put a stop to it, now.

And take your abuse out on someone else. I don't tolerate that kind of crap from anyone.

[CHICAGOFARMER]

the liberal gun grabbers don't give a crap if the facts bear out the hype of not!

To educate millions that even we think it is a good idea is barf.

If you believe that the government is here to help you I got some beach front property in nebraska.

If you believe the government study or reports tell the truth they got you hook line and sinker. Just take a look at junkscience.com and see the millions of funded govt studies and the crap that is used to pass more laws.

We can certainly see you are just joining this fight. Welcome, however, to repuke the puke does not cut it will the true purist 2nd supporters.

[justlurking]

We can certainly see you are just joining this fight. Welcome, however, to repuke the puke does not cut it will the true purist 2nd supporters.

You can't see anything further than the nose on your face, and are apparently intent on cutting that off so that you can get even closer. I've been in this fight since before you even thought it might be a good idea.

Education does work, if you drop the attitude. You are right about the die-hard opponents, but there's a much larger majority in the middle that don't know any better. You can't expect the popular media to tell the truth, so you have to go to them one-to-one.

We defeated the "cop killer bullet" ban that would have prohibited most hunting rifle cartridges. We also put a stop to the "explosive taggant" canard. But we did so by convincing the right people through education, rather than screaming at each other.

Get a grip on yourself and start acting like an adult.

[Copernicus]

SAAMI membership includes A-Square, Alliant Powder, Beretta, Browning, CCI-SPEER, Colt, Eldorado Cartridge, Federal, Fiocchi, Glock, Hodgdon, Hornady, Kahr, Marlin, Mossberg, North American Arms, Remington and St. Marks Powder. If you can't trust that bunch, you are ready for more than a tinfoil hat.

Understood.

My fundamental point stands. Institution after institution, organization after organization has been repeatedly co-opted from the top down by leftist agendas.

I'm a member of NRA. Every time I try to vote a pro 2nd Amendment Agenda board member onto the NRA board I am thwarted by a well organized, well funded opposition that believes in pre-emptive surrender at every opportunity. To advance my ideas I find it necessary to support and join alternative 2nd Amendment Organizations-GOA,2nd Amendment Sisters,Jews For the Preservation of Firearms Ownership.

If SAAMI is serious let them drop this Project Homesafe Trigger Lock program immediately.

Good intentions pave the road to mayhem and all that sort of thing.

Best regards,

[Copernicus]

The SAAMI membership also includes: SigArms, Smith & Wesson, Ruger, Taurus, U.S.Repeating Arms, Weatherby and Winchester.

Point of order:

I thought our discussion was about NSSF. Are SAAMI and NSSF connected?

Color me confused.

Best regards,

[glc1173@aol.com]

"I'm a member of NRA. Every time I try to vote a pro 2nd Amendment Agenda board member onto the NRA board I am thwarted by a well organized, well funded opposition that believes in pre-emptive surrender at every opportunity.

WHICH pro-RTKBA nominees have been kept off NRA's board in this "conspiracy?" After all, Bob Barr, Lt. Col. Robert K. Brown (publisher of Soldier Of Fortune), Ted Nugent - all have been on the NRA board in the past five years.

It's NRA's bureaucracy that's the problem; it depends for its well-paid jobs on keeping gun owners scared, rather than aggressively going after - including with "outing" - antigun politicians and media people.

GUN REVIEWS free from ad-money bias - emphasizing woman-friendliness of tested guns!