Posted on 06/01/2007 10:08:10 AM PDT by rellimpank
The California state Assembly Tuesday voted to require all new semi-automatic pistols sold in the state to automatically stamp information on shell casings that could help police track down violent criminals.
The California measure, which still has to pass the state Senate, marks an intriguing new development in the war against crime because, unlike some gun-control measures, it doesn't restrict law-abiding citizens' ability to own or carry firearms. Instead, the measure would require that all new semi-automatic pistols sold in California after 2010 contain a microscopic laser etching that will stamp the gun's make, model and serial number on at least two places on the shell casing of a bullet every time the weapon is fired
(Excerpt) Read more at denverpost.com ...
Someone explain to me what’s wrong with this legislation. Ballistics is used to match a gun to an owner, why not be able to match a bullet or shell casing to a gun owner? Even if it’s just to confirm that a gun has been stolen, doesn’t this speed the investigation along? Or is this considered to be registration, a prelude to confiscation?
I predict the sale of $2 diamond files to gang bangers will skyrocket if this passes. Don't miss your chance to ride the next big investment wave....
How the heck do you even DO something like that? Engrave it in the barrel?
}:-)4
Whats wrong is, it wont work..Its just another hair brained idea designed to make it more difficult for people to buy guns in Kali.
Basically it is a gun ban by requiring technology that doesn't exist.
Having this State in the Union is not a neutral thing that only effects them. The idiot Dems running Oregon and Washington appear to slavishly follow even the bad trends that begin in Cali.
BLOAT!
The criminal had spent $2 for a fine diamond file and has immediately filed the hardened stamps smooth on his weapon, so you become the police's #1 suspect.
So adding to the expense of owning a gun isn't a restriction?
Also, these measures are easily defeated with inexpensive hand tools, or revolvers will suddenly become fashionable with the gangstatistas.
First of all, this technology doesn’t even exist.
Second, I can guarantee that it will be EXPENSIVE.
Third, what crook is going to use a gun with such technology?
Fourth, since it is “laser etched” just take the battery out.
Fifth, Just pick up a few casings at any gun range and throw them down at the crime scene.
Sixth, yes, it is registration.
Like all gun control legislation, it will impact the law-abiding while not affecting criminals. This technology won't be cheap. Meanwhile, criminals will either disable it or make sure they have older weapons.
I go find once lasered brass,...for my pre-2010 pistola. Get the brass reloaded..and viola, for a bit I've pinned the murder/shooting on some poor smuck.
You can alter the ballistics of a bullet by simply honing the barrel after you fire it, changing the distinctive scratches from the last bullets fired. This will only be a way of tracking stolen guns from stupid people and returning them to their owners before they get the stamps filed smooth.
Problems with this:
1. It’s stupidly easy to defeat, and adds a LOT of extra cost to the production of a firearm. Many makers will refuse to make a California-only version of a firearm, so this will reduce the number of guns available to the law abiding in CA. This, of course, is the goal of the legislation - not crime prevention. See next point.
2. Much like the barrel leaves unique impressions on the bullet, the chamber, firing pin, and extractor all leave unique markings on the expended casing. Some states have a “ballistic fingerprint database” now, where all new guns must come with a fired casing for the police to scan and enter into their database. Makers don’t have a problem with this, as they proof-fire the weapon anyway. Here’s the point, though - some states have had this “law enforcement tool” for a decade now. It has cost their taxpayers millions of dollars. Care to guess how many crimes have been solved through the ballistics fingerprinting databases? Zero.
3. Let’s say you want to frame a close associate for murder. You and he go shooting at a range, and his gun is spitting out empties microstamped with its unique information. You surreptitiously save a few of his expended shells. Later, you shoot the victim with a similar model gun in the same caliber, pick up your expended shells, and dump the framee’s empties on the ground. Easy frame, and most DAs and police will look no further, because, after all, the microstamped ballistics don’t lie, right?
Also, I’m certain that the gangbangers will be going to ranges and pocketing empties to leave at crime scenes as distractions/diversions for the police - there’s been at least two incidents where that’s happened in ballistic fingerprinting states, both times to cops.
Do you see the problems now?
As a tool and die maker I can say that yes, the technology exists, and is actually quite simple to do. When you fire the gun the shell casing inside the chamber expands from the pressure and presses on the chamber walls. A series of sharp electroplated carbide code dots on the chamber walls will imprint the numbers on the casing side, and of course having the firing pin can be etched as well to leave them.
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