Sniper Shootings Now Topic in Race (MD Gun Control)

Baltimore Sun ^ | Oct 13, 2002 | Sun Staff

[VaMarVet]

Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. accused his Democratic opponent yesterday of trying to capitalize on the fear that has seeped into the Washington suburbs since the serial killings began, but Kathleen Kennedy Townsend responded that the congressman was trying to deflect attention from his own pro-gun record.

Campaigning in Prince George's County yesterday, the location of one of the sniper shootings, Ehrlich said Townsend's latest television ad, which includes an image of assault weapons, was inflammatory. The commercial - which began running in the Washington suburbs late last week - points out the Republican congressman's gun control votes.

[punster]

You are right.

I believe the best they can do is to identify the firearms manufacturer, based in the general characteristics of the rifling. The characteristics would be number of grooves, right-hand or left-hand twist of the rifling, and perhaps general dimensions of the rifling.

However, it is very unlikely they can identify the specific firearm. Why? One those 'ballistic fingerprints' are of a brand-new gun barrel. What happens, when the gun is fired a number of times, especially with jacketed bullets? Or, for that matter, cleaned vigorously with a wire brush to remove jacket fouling, or the barrel is lapped to improve accuracy? The barrel wears, of course.

It does seem the gun control advocates are either incredibly stupid or reprehesibly dishonest, though it is quite possible they are both stupid and dishonest.

[ReleaseTheHounds]

Sorry, Dave... I mixed this up -- it was today's Washington Times (much more predictable) trashing KKT on this exploitation. But I am pretty sure that there was a W. Post editorial this past week saying pretty much the same thing. I get both papers and read both Op Ed pages every day so I sometimes confuse the two when responding to a FREEP thread.

[VaMarVet]

Thanks - I subscribe to both the Times and Post so I guess that makes me balanced;-) I just could not believe the Post would dis the "Royal Family of America".