PING!
Posted on 10/29/2004 9:29:52 PM PDT by Travis McGee
LASER ETCHING IDENTIFICATION PROPOSED FOR HANDGUN AMMO
If a proposal from the California Attorney General's Office is enacted, all handgun ammunition possessed in public or sold or imported into the nation's most populous state will be laser etched with an individual serial number.
TRhe high-tech tracking system would require all cartridges in a box packaged for retail sale to have matching identification numbers. The package would be scanned and the information linked to the identity of the purchaser.
The micro-stamping system used to etch the serial numbers was developed by Seattle-based Ravensforge Inc., whose technology was subjected to a successful torture test supervised by Randy Rossi, director of the firearms division of the California Dept. of Justice.
"WE TRIED TO PROVE THIS DOESN'T WORK."
Two hundred rounds were fired at close range into automobile doors, wood and concrete walls, ballistic vests, rubber matting and gelatin blocks simulating the density of human tissue. Of the 181 slugs recovered, including soft lead bullets that flattened upon impact, the etched code numbers were identified on all but one round by a standard electronic microscope.
"We tried to prove this doesn't work," said Rossi. "To have it work virtually every time, I was very surprised."
The calibers tested included 9mm, .38, .40 and .45, but not .22, the most popular sporting caliber in California and throughout the nation.
Rossi and his colleagues believe by tracking ammunition they will have a powerful and accurate weapon in identifying the source of criminal use of firearms.
"THIS WON'T SOLVE EVERY CRIME, BUT IT WILL SOLVE A LOT OF CRIMES."
Rossi emphasized that the proposal would exempt sport shooters who reload their own cartridges.
"We could get some gang bangers who all of a sudden take an interest and study reloading, but I hardly think so," said Rossi. "These are the same people who won't even bother to put a glove on when they're committing a crime. This won't solve every crime, but it will solve a lot of crmes."
GARY MEHALIK, the marketing director for the NSSF, warned that until the technology could be applied to .22 caliber ammunition it would be far from universally effective. Coupled with the estimated cost of one cent or less per etching, Mehalik was skeptical of the technology's practicality.
"We'd have to analyze teh costs," said Mehalik, "but I can tell you that it would create a logistical nightmare inside the current production systems."
I typed this up myself, so any typos are my own.
The criminals always find a way around these things.
tagged.
Is Randy Rossi related to the Italian company Rossi which manufactures firearms?
If it doesn't work on .22s, it probably doesn't work on
any soft lead (non-jacketed) rounds.
But beyond that, if the former ammo-logging under the
BATF never solved a crime, why would they expect to
find the actual per after a serialized bullet trace?
Costs? Phenomenal. Yet another reason for reasonable
people to get the heck out of kahlifornya.
I was thinking the same thing. Using something to sand or grind off the nos. wouldn't be that difficult. It goes back to the point that laws are for the law abiding. Criminals don't care about the laws.
A serial number on every bullet?? Baloney!
"but what are the downside risks to our gun rights?"
Criminals breaking into your home to steal your laser etched ammo for starters.
Pretty cool having a "gun name" though. I'd like to be named "Colt Winchester" myself. Maybe I can name a character that...
No problem; I load my own.
If reloading becomes illegal (and I really cannot see that happening) then I will be a lawbreaker.
Hey, if they would only put serial numbers on guns, they could record those serial numbers when they sold the gun and it would lead them right to all the criminals who use guns. Oh, wait.
I heard that the UID marking is only 1/2 of the proposal. The other half is requiring ammo buyers to submit fingerprints at the time of purchase, thus forever linking the ammo and the buyer. This is a HUGE threat to the 2nd amendment - "they" want to control the ammo, as guns are worthless without it.
They'll just make you buy pre-etched factory-made bullets. Molding cast lead bullets will probably be a crime, similar to manufacturing a silencer, or sawing off a shotgun barrel.
Too late, I already have bullet molds for all my calibers.
As to the other two listed crimes.... no comment.
True, and the person who fires a bullet is not necissarily the person who purchased them,
If a criminal steals your weapon and ammo, what good will that do?
There is nothing too idiotic for a gun banner.
Save your Brass! CYA!
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