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Posted on 08/24/2005 8:27:30 AM PDT by neverdem
COPLEY NEWS SERVICE
SACRAMENTO – Attorney General Bill Lockyer has shelved a novel gun-control measure that would have required manufacturers to stamp microscopic serial numbers on all handgun ammunition sold in California.
Sen. Joe Dunn, a Garden Grove Democrat carrying the legislation for the attorney general, said he needed more time to resolve a heated debate over how much the potentially landmark tracking system would cost and who would pay for it.
The bill, SB 357, has passed the Senate and is pending in an Assembly fiscal committee as the Legislature pushes through its final three weeks of this year's session. The measure may be taken up next year, the second in the two-year session.
The legislation would require manufacturers to imprint or etch a serial number on the end of each slug or bullet starting in 2009. Boxes of cartridges bearing the same number could then be linked to buyers' driver licenses recorded at the time of sale.
Lockyer said coding handgun ammunition could help identify suspects in many of the murders and other violent crimes that go unsolved every year. But, while many other consumer products are tagged with tracking numbers during manufacturing, no other state or country has attempted to set up such a system for ammunition.
Aides to Lockyer said the proposal would add less than a penny to the cost of a cartridge. Representatives of the firearms industry warned it would be prohibitively expensive.
A similar measure, AB 352, would require gun makers to equip semiautomatic handguns with components that leave an identifying code on spent shell casings. That bill has passed the Assembly and is awaiting what figures to be a close vote on the Senate floor.
Dunn said he will work during the coming months to resolve fears that his bill could pose a financial burden on some law enforcement personnel who are required to buy ammunition for training.
"It's a legitimate question that we will respond to," Dunn said.
He was less optimistic about bringing manufacturers together with companies that have developed methods to code ammunition. Regardless, he predicted the measure will be delivered to the governor next year.
Opponents say Lockyer and Dunn have yet to sell the proposal to much of the state's law enforcement community.
Prominent organizations, such as those representing the state's district attorneys and police chiefs, have declined to endorse the bill, noted Lawrence Keane, general counsel of the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute, an industry trade group known as SAAMI.
"I think it's pretty clear that law enforcement by and large is not supporting this effort," Keane said.
Manufacturers say the proposal would force expensive changes on a high-volume, low-margin business. Keane and others have warned the required manufacturing modifications would either drive companies out of business or result in steep price increases.
One of your goofier ideas from a goofy group.
The other reason is that they finally figured out that criminals will switch to shotguns, and more people will die as a result.
Ever hear of reloads? Reloads may or may not have serial numbers. If casings are tagged, and my spent brass was used in a reload that was used in a felony, I am in trouble.
I'm surprised that they shelved it. It's not like the California I know.
Uhh... guns don't kill people, bullets do? Is this next?
One of your goofier ideas from a goofy group.
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Shows you what is running California -- it is beyond insane and scary.
The serial number will be on the base of the bullet itself, not the brass.
My question is, what about ammo re-sales? Stolen ammo?
Bottom line, is this is the CA legislature's way to get rid of all guns in CA. In a way, I hope they do it, because when we see gun crime ESCALATE in CA after firearms are effectively banned, it'll provide our side with yet more data.
At this point it is like haggling with any whore, what's the price?
Dodged a bullet for now.
The firearms and ammo producers need to follow Barrett's lead and quit selling anything to the PRK. When their police / LEOs have no guns or ammo they will pay attention.
What good is that going to do when there is such a high percentage of crimes committed by illegals? If they can't keep drugs out of the country, what makes them think they can stop smuggled ammunition?
This bill is akin to arming an invading enemy.
Reloads would be illegal under this legislation, as would be possession of unmarked ammo.
Surely you jest?!?
That 'other' side out East and (down South) doesn't give a rats A$$ about 'our' statistics.
2,000,000 documented cases a year of life and property saved via the RTKBA go unreported and unheralded by the MSM. And ignored by state and federal legislatures.
And you'd wish something like this for CA???????
There ARE those here on the "Left Coast" who bust our tails to fight against this kind of lunacy. You benefit. Many other states are only too quick to adopt CA efforts ... "data" be damned.
I personally wrote letters fighting 352 and 357 while YOU are hoping this C&@P passes. Similar efforts, even by those out of state, would benefit EVERBODY.
Afterall, "Be careful for what you wish....."
What I said was, 'In a way, I hope they do it,'.
Sorry that the irony of my statement didn't come through. I think these two bills are absolute travesties. Of course I don't want to see Californians lose their right to keep and bear arms.
And then attempt to enforce it... heh, heh.
Exactly. :)
Not mentioned in this article is that Joe Dunn will be running for AG in June.
It would be terrific if California's gun owners remember this.
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