Micro-Stamping | Ballistic "Fingerprinting"
The concept of “micro-stamping” is that a firearm’s firing pin or other internal parts could imprint, onto fired ammunition cartridge cases, unique microscopic codes, that the codes could be entered into a computerized database before the firearm leaves the factory, and that police investigators could pick up a cartridge case left at a crime scene, identify the markings on the case, run them against the database, and identify the criminal involved.
However, micro-stamping has repeatedly failed in tests, micro-stamped markings are easily removed, most guns do not automatically eject fired cartridge cases, only new guns—a small percentage of all guns—would be micro-stamped, most gun crimes cannot be solved by micro-stamping, most crimes don’t require micro-stamping to be solved, and most criminals get guns through unregulated channels that would not be affected by a micro-stamping requirement.
In 2008, the National Academy of Sciences evaluated the feasibility, accuracy and technical capability of a possible national database of so-called “ballistic images” from new guns sold in the United States. Citing a number of factors, the evaluation concluded, “A national reference ballistic image database should not be established.”
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Yesterday, Governor Newsom announced action on the anti-gun bills awaiting his consideration before the September 30th deadline. Newsom vetoed ...
Tuesday, September 1, 2020
Late last night, the California Legislature adjourned the 2020 Legislative Session. Three anti-gun bills, AB 2362, AB 2847, ...
Sunday, August 16, 2020
As the California Legislature enters the final few weeks of session, it's important that gun owners keep up ...
Friday, August 7, 2020
This week, the Legislature passed and the Governor signed SB 118, the budget trailer bill that includes an expansion ...
Monday, August 3, 2020
This week, several committees will be hearing bills that impact both your Second Amendment Rights and hunting heritage ...
Monday, July 27, 2020
Today, July 27th, the California Legislature reconvened from the extended summer recess. As you recall, just prior to recess, the ...
Friday, May 29, 2020
Next week, both the Senate and Assembly Appropriations Committees will be meeting to consider firearm related bills.
Friday, May 8, 2020
This week, the California Assembly returned to work after an extended recess due to the COVID-19 crisis. The ...
Tuesday, August 14, 2018
In a ruling earlier this month, it upheld one of the most bizarre and nonsensical gun regulations in ...
Friday, August 10, 2018
Imagine if California, to combat what the legislature considered the serious problem of manmade global warming, required all ...