Gun Add-On Sets Sights on Killers

Wired News ^ | 02:00 AM Oct. 25, 2002 PDT | By Louise Knapp

[vannrox]

A device that can be incorporated into any type of firearm aims to make it harder for criminals to get away with murder.

Every time a weapon fitted with the device is fired, it stamps an indelible imprint of the firearm's serial number onto the bullet's shell casing.

[El Gato]

And, once again, once you have the serial number you do...what? Why, you match it against a registration of owners

Not that I approve of the scheme, but that wouldn't need to be the case. Just as a gun recovered at a crime scene can be traced today, the gun could be traced the same way from the ID mark on the case. How? They go to the manufacturer who tells them what wholesaler the gun was shipped to, the wholesaler then tells them what dealer was shipped the gun. The dealer consults the "yellow sheet", and finds who bought the gun from him. That won't be the criminal in all but the most trivial cases, such as domestic murders. These scemes are more useful for getting evidence for the trial than it is in finding the perp in the first place. They do nothing whatsoever to stop the crime from being commited, nor do they protect any of the would be victims.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Time for the wise business man to stock up on chamber reamers and polishers!

[Procyon]

No, a lancet on the trigger extracts a DNA sample by pricking the trigger finger; a tiny lab built into the grip or stock does an instant analysis. Also a LCD camera at the end of the barrel points back to the shooter's face. All this is combined with the GPS data and flashed to an overhead satellite.

[SicTransitGloriaMundi]

No reason it wouldn't work with revolvers - they'd have to etch the number inside each of the six or so holes. (What are these called?)

Is there any way to tell that a particular bullet ws fired from a particular case? Would anyone be able to tell if a criminal picked up some brass from the range and dropped it in place of his own?

[PatrioticAmerican]

Of course, police firearms would be exempt from such a device.

[rllngrk33]

Would anyone be able to tell if a criminal picked up some brass from the range and dropped it in place of his own?

Hey, Stop giving criminals ideas.

IMHO, I think that any stupid idea (such as imprinting a serial number on a cartridge case) that helps with gun registration is doomed to failure. Any criminal with an ounce of common sense can overcome these stupid ideas.

[TLI]

No, a lancet on the trigger extracts a DNA sample by pricking the trigger finger; a tiny lab built into the grip or stock does an instant analysis. Also a LCD camera at the end of the barrel points back to the shooter's face. All this is combined with the GPS data and flashed to an overhead satellite.

Sounds like a great idea!  As long as...

the correct satellite is in the correct position,

the batteries are in good shape (we all KNOW that a law abiding firearm owner will keep fresh batteries in),

the LCD camera is not blocked with a piece of tape,

the law abiding firearm owner does not put animal blood over the trigger,

the testing materials are all fresh and restocked into the mechanism by the law abiding firearm owner,

and the GPS antenna cable has not been cut...

THIS WILL WORK PERFECTLY!

[robertpaulsen]

"a lancet on the trigger extracts a DNA sample by pricking the trigger finger"

Have you seen the movie Gattaca?

[xsrdx]

BANG!

[E. Pluribus Unum]

No, a lancet on the trigger extracts a DNA sample by pricking the trigger finger; a tiny lab built into the grip or stock does an instant analysis. Also a LCD camera at the end of the barrel points back to the shooter's face. All this is combined with the GPS data and flashed to an overhead satellite.

The more ludricous the idea, the more likely it is to become law. I think yours has a very good chance.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I would toss the empty POLICE casings around the scene where I did it.

The gun-grabbers would just pass another law making it a felony to possess empty police shell casings.