This would certainly be a good instance. What would the downside be?
1) Firearms get sold or stolen...a stolen weapon could be used in a crime.
2) It's an infringment on our 2nd Amendment gaurantee
3) "printing" a bore or firing pin does not make a criminal pop up out of the world to be arressted.
4) There may be some question about use of firearm changing the "imprint"---metal changes from use and wear.
Parts interchange. It would be easy for a smart criminal to throw suspicion on someone else using this "evidence".
Besides... five minutes with a whetstone or Dremel tool and all the effort to "fingerprint" each firearm is for naught. It'd be easier than filing off the serial number.
This would certainly be a good instance. What would the downside be?
That would be similar to fingerprinting all persons and keeping the print records in an FBI database. Just in case you'd ever commit a crime.
This would certainly be a good instance. What would the downside be?
In 2 seconds with a file you can change the firing pin signature. You can change the firing pin altogether. For a handgun other than a revolver you can swap out the barrel. For a rifle you can change the bolt and reheadspace. There are to many simple ways to defeat ballistic signature. Plus, if you sell a gun or have it stolen the LEO are still going to look for you if a bullet or case is found that matches your orginal purchase.
Do we fingerprint tires for all new cars purchased? How about taking photographs of every drunk before they leave the bar? How about DNA samples from everyperson born before they leave the hospital? How about manditory chip implants so everyone is tracked by satelite 24 hours a day for their entire life and cameras on every street corner and light post?