[SteveH]

Some relatively obvious inaccuracies in this...

[SicTransitGloriaMundi]

Chemical impurities in the lead and copper might be enough to trace the bullets to a particular manufacturer or even a particular lot. Gold is apparently traceable that way.

[LouD]

Might not be a rifle at all. It could quite possibly be a bolt action or single shot pistol chambered for .223.

Using a pistol would certainly facilitate the sniper's disappearing quickly after each shooting, and these weapons would account for the lack of brass found at the crime scenes. Moreover, they are plenty accurate enough at the ranges the sniper has fired from, particularly if the sniper is using a scope or laser sight.

[retiredtexan]

I do not beleive that any brass has been found. That leads me to beleive it is a bolt action vs. auto. The chances that he could have retrieved evey piece of brass is remote.

[Atlas Sneezed]

"It is possible for a person, using a file or some other object, to try and alter a firearm so that the bullets and cartridge casings fired from it would have a different appearance, ATF said. While that wouldn't be difficult or time-consuming, such instances of this occurring in actual casework are exceedingly rare, the ATF report said. "

Wait until you implement a national registry on the premise of ballistic snapshotting guns. Then there will be a REASON for criminals to modify their guns in the fast or easy way, (assuming they had purchased a new gun in their own name.)

[Helms]

Once again for the hearing and otherwise existentially challenged- THIS IS MIDEASTERN TERRORISM- the recent news about children at risk and especially BODY BAGS are totally consistent with this theory. Further body bags is a term the regimes in the ME love to use as a reminder of our Vietnam experience. This is a term of WAR, not psychosis. As to the $ issue, a diversion, althougth we all know that they may be running low on cash and need adequate funding ( ask the UN about that when it comes to Palestinian terror).

By the way, the media are giving this all the exposure of an Al Queda Cell at work. My bet is that these are some buddies of the earlier bombers of the TTT. After all, was there not alot of target practise arond Lakawanaand was not George Tennet very nervous lately.

Think for yourselves as the Government and local enforcement have no current interest in fessing up to it directly.

[DmBarch]

Every firearm has individual characteristics that are as unique to it as fingerprints are to human beings, ATF says.

For a short period of time, perhaps, as long as nothing has been changed, maybe. You can change the upper of an AR-15, with all unregistered parts and different barrel, in 30 seconds. Then you re-zero the weapon's sights.

If they can match the fired bullets to a particular gun, they can also determine the twist rate of the barrel used. This will help to possibly eliminate some of the cartridges as they traditionally don't feature that twist rate to fire a certain weight bullet well. But they haven't stated the twist rate, type and weight of bullet used to my knowledge.