Old Dominion Terror Attack Exposes the Myth of Gun Tracing

The gun used in the terror attack on Old Dominion University was a stolen .22 caliber handgun that uses 10-round magazines. The pistol was untraceable for two common reasons. First, the gun was stolen. This breaks any chain of custody. A trace only goes to the first retail purchaser. When a gun is stolen, there is no link from the legal purchaser to the thief. From apnews.com:

The second reason the pistol was untraceable was that the serial number was partly obliterated. From unionbulletin.com:

When a firearm’s serial number is obliterated or altered, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to trace. There are other common reasons why the firearms tracing system is almost never used to solve crimes of violence. The most common reason gun traces are not useful for solving violent crimes is that they are seldom found at the scene of the crime. When guns are found at the scene of a violent crime, they are often found with the person who used them, as happened in this case.

"...When a firearm’s serial number is obliterated or altered, it becomes difficult, if not impossible, to trace...."

I have untold respect for Mr. Weingarten, and I'm glad he pointesd this out, but the truth is serial numbers are almost always recoverable, provided you have access to the technical means and are willing to spend the forensic dollars to do it.

Crims usually only do enough damage to the firearm to prevent reading the serial number on superficial examination, and you'd have to remove a substantial amount of material to remove the recoverable traces left at the molecular level by stamping, roll-marking or laser-etching of serial numbers.

One of the defining characteristics of all metals (in solid form) is they have a crystalline molecular structure, and that structure will be uniform at the time of manufacture. But the crystalline pattern will be altered by later application of extreme pressure and/or heat. And those alterations in the patterns of the crystals -- which might be detectable through processes as simple as acid etching or magnafluxing -- penetrate to a substantial depth beneath the markings themselves.

But the equipment and the staff that know how to use it are costly, and as Mr W notes, the results of those test rarely contribute to s successful prosecution, so there's not much return on that investment.

***.22 caliber handgun that uses 10-round magazines. ***

I remember back to late 1970 or earl 1971. The Denver Post Sunday supplement had a long article on what a SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL was!
Any handgun that cost $45 or less (at 1970 prices) was an EVIL SNS and needed to be banned. The photo shown was a Ruger MK II.
Today that Ruger costs about $450 or more. Think of all the good handguns that cost less than that.

I’m glad he pointesd this out, but the truth is serial numbers are almost always recoverable, provided you have access to the technical means and are willing to spend the forensic dollars to do it.

Another complication in the mix is many modern guns have the serial number engraved or on a separate metal plate which might be removed from a plastic frame. Not all serial numbers are stamped any more. There are various methods available to recover serial numbers from these technologies as well.

“Another complication in the mix is many modern guns have the serial number engraved or on a separate metal plate which might be removed from a plastic frame. “

Glocks have serial numbers also on the metal slide and the barrel as well. Which are interchangeable within model groups so you can end up a frankenglock. A G17 slide fits on any frame with the same mag well size and frame rails. You can put a 40cal slide and barrel on a 9mm G17 frame and vice versa. The 357 Sig also fits any frame of a G17. The mags all swap into the frames as well. The large 45 ACP frame also holds the 10mm slide and mags you don’t need to buy two guns just get the slide and mag of the caliber you want to add. I have two G20 frames and G21 45ACP slide, a second G21 slide with Lonewolf barrels in 460 ROWLAND 6” threaded and threaded 6” for 45Super as well the barrels drop right into the slide only the springs need to be custom 30# for 44mag level ballistics. You can in theory chamber a 45 super in a stock 45acp Block , don’t do it the stock chamber is unsupported with half the base of the case hanging out the bottom feed ramp area lighting off 44 mag level pressures is not a good look. The lonewolf 45 super barrel is full supported and button rifled not polygonal so you can also use hard cast gas checked bullets same for the 460 Rowland hard cast is big bear medicine.

Lonewolf also makes barrels that will turn a 40 cal stock slide into 357 Sig or 9mm the extractor is close enough from 40cal to 9mm the round ejects just fine. Can’t go 9mm slide to 40 cal barrel as the ejector is inside the rim of the 40. 45ACP becomes 40Super the big brother of 357 Sig 200gr 1450fps it’s a fireball thrower and all you need is a $130 barrel it uses 45 mags. The 9x25mm Dillon is the super big brother of the 357 Sig it’s a full 10mm case necked to 9mm and yeets a standard 115gr at 1900fps from a 6” barrel it’s a three gun monster it takes a custom barrel lonewolf will make you one if you ask :)

Love some Glocks

Two frames sizes and you get. Couple drop in barrels and springs...The mags all swap into the frames. 9mm, (375&40) cal,(45,44super,40super,460),10mm
9mm,357Sig,40cal,45acp,45super,460Rowland,40super,10mm auto& 9x25mm Dillon.

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