[30-06 Springfield]

If in fact they did recover an expended shell in the vicinity of the school, a half way decent forensic lab should be able to at least get the firing pin indentation marks from it. They might even be able to raise some finger prints. The firing pin indentation signature leads one then to speculate on the feds starting to "print" each and every firearm before it leaves the factory or dealer. Is that good or bad?

[two23]

"The firing pin indentation signature leads one then to speculate on the feds starting to "print" each and every firearm before it leaves the factory or dealer. Is that good or bad?

This topic was raised on Greta Van Susterens's program last night. That each fiearm purchase should be run threw the LE who fires 3 rounds and keeps the shells on record. I totally disagree with even HINTING at this procedure. The assumption is all gun owners are "Potential Criminals of America". There were 80 million (?) gun owners yesterday who didn't shoot anybody.

[iconoclast]

The firing pin indentation signature leads one then to speculate on the feds starting to "print" each and every firearm before it leaves the factory or dealer. Is that good or bad?

This would certainly be a good instance. What would the downside be?

[wcbtinman]

"The firing pin indentation..."

If this guy is half as smart as he seems to be, then he will have a couple of spare firing pins with him as both backup, and to change out so the indentations won't match. He can also run a stainless brush down the barrel and change the ballistic imprint somewhat. For that matter, if the weapon is an AR-15 or an FN, he can just change the barrel out.

When the cops tell us they found brass related to this shooter, they insult our intelligence. Or this guy is really a phsycopath and doesn't care if he's caught.(but I doubt that)

[blackdog]

If a shooter is as good as this one, a "found shell casing" is not luck. It is deliberate.

[Chemist_Geek]

The firing pin indentation signature leads one then to speculate on the feds starting to "print" each and every firearm before it leaves the factory or dealer. Is that good or bad?

But, firing pins or strikers break and need replacement...

"Firing Pin Registration" is a horrible idea, especially because it presumes guilt. I argue that without a warrant, the government has no right to take and store that information about private property. If it wants to store that information about its own guns, fine. From what I hear about government agencies "losing" firearms, it might be a good idea to do so.

[BCR #226]

[qb]If in fact they did recover an expended shell in the vicinity of the school, a half way decent forensic lab should be able to at least get the firing pin indentation marks from it. They might even be able to raise some finger prints. The firing pin indentation signature leads one then to speculate on the feds starting to "print" each and every firearm before it leaves the factory or dealer. Is that good or bad?[/qb]

Won't work. While on the surface, "fingerprinting" brass sounds like a good idea, the most basic thing is overlooked. Everytime a gun is fired, wear occurs on all the parts. After a while, the firing pin face wears, the rifling changes, etc. This means that the marks on the brass, primers, and bullets will change as well. The reason that ballistic comparison works is that most criminals don't shoot their guns often and the marks don't change much.

Ballistic fingerprinting is a total waste of time and money. If every new gun is "fingerprinted" when manufactured, those prints will be useless after the gun has been fired 100 times. Not to mention the fact that you would see many people swapping parts.

Mike

[antivenom]

Go to any gun range...pick up handfuls and handfuls of "others" spent shells...leave one behind for the convenience to "mislead" the authorities...and always, always, always, LOAD your own shells with gloves...keep your prints OFF of the round.