Posted on 04/30/2009 1:33:36 PM PDT by neverdem
Bill awaits Senate action to help trace pistols; opponents question cost, effectiveness
ALBANY — As the state Assembly passes a number of gun control measures, members of the newly Democratic state Senate joined gun control advocates to push for a proposal to mandate "microstamping" on semiautomatic pistols sold in the state. "This is a tough-on-crime, smart-on-crime proposal," said Sen. Eric Schneiderman, D-New York City, who is shepherding the measure through the Senate.
The plan, originally put forth by Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, D-Great Neck, already passed in the lower house, where Democrats hold a 109-to-41 majority.
But with the Senate this year under a new 32-to-30 Democratic majority, advocates are hoping microstamping and other gun measures will pass there as well.
Microstamping is a process in which lasers put a distinctive mark on a weapon's firing pin. That mark is then etched into each cartridge casing when the gun is fired. Supporters including police and prosecutors say it could help them better match shell casings to a given weapon.
But the plan has opponents too, including representatives of gun manufacturers who question whether the stamps couldn't be tampered with by criminals.
Others say they fear it would add to the cost of weapons, although proponents say microstamping would add a few dollars at most.
Either way, some of the upstate-downstate divisions on this issue were on display at the Capitol on Wednesday.
Shortly after the news conference promoting microstamping, gun enthusiasts — including many from upstate — gathered at the Capitol to lobby lawmakers against enacting the proposal.
The Schneiderman-Schimel proposal would mandate microstamping for handguns made after Jan. 1, 2011.
California has passed a similar law that takes effect in 2010.
Rick Karlin can be reached at (518) 454-5758 or rkarlin@timesunion.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
There’s a video before the NY state senate, where a firearm industry representative replaces every micro-stamped part of a pistol in less than a minute.
Barrel, firing pin, etc.
And hopefully they’ll do in the same way that Ronnie Barrett did when the LAPD used one of his 50 caliber rifles as a prop for getting the 50-caliber ban passed in CA :D
The legislation probably has a provision that make it an offense to possess a gun which does not have an operational micro-stamping ability. This then turns into a way to convict a legal gun owner who defended himself with a gun whose microstamping had worn away.
They’ll pass a law requiring that revolvers be left at the scene of the crime.
You hit the salient point in all of this. For this scheme to work (solve crimes) the govt. has to know who actually owns the gun. That requires registration does it not? Camel’s nose under the tent.
Wonder how much these guys got greased by the sole technology provider?
Hmmm.... What about the gazillion guns out there already?
This is intended to staft you, not criminals.
So the question isn’t how it effects criminals, it’s how does it effect you.
Just one more requirement to make gun ownership a hassle is my guess.
Just take the firing pin and stroke it on a piece of emery cloth. Works wonders. and the breach face can be cleaned of microstamps the same way.
Or police your brass.
In the not so distance future...
Knock Knock. Mr Yokel, this is the police. You’re under arrest for accessory to 1st degree murder. You allowed your handgun to be stolen.
Yep, just another way to hassle legal gun owners and manufacturers. Criminals won’t be affected one bit.
I hope the idiot company that is pushing this micro-stamping idea on state governments loses every cent they have.
or after you empty your cylider, you must open it and expend all the used casings.
why would you hope that?
How much you wanna bet that the doofusses that are in favor of this think that this will somehow mark the actual projectile?
Remember, these laws are proposed by idiots who know nothing about guns.
Cause we all know the Criminals will follow the law and not modify their guns......
[I don’t think I need to even bother with a /sarc tag here, this is so freakin ridiculous]
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.