Gun Microstamping & 5 Huge Problems
Gun microstamping is getting publicity of late and it’s on the legislative agenda in California (AB 1471). In a recent article (see reference below), gun microstamping was showcased as being a big help to law enforcement efforts to identify guns used in crimes. Obviously, law abiding citizens would like to see law enforcement officers have great tools to help identify criminals and the guns used by them. However, gun microstamping is not the answer.
Put simply, gun microstamping is a technology whereby a handgun stamps a very small identification mark on each shell casing when fired in that handgun. The idea is that law enforcement would be able to collect these shell casings (complete with identifying information) at the scene of the crime – allowing them to trace the gun back to the criminal. This sounds ok until you start thinking about it logically.
1) Shooting ranges across the United States are filled with shell casings – legally fired from the handguns of law abiding citizens. Most shooting ranges require you to collect your “brass” as it’s called – prior to leaving the range. However, as any target shooter will tell you – there’s usually a few shell casings that get away. This means that anyone who finds the casings later will be in possession of a handgun cartridge legally fired from the handgun of a law abiding citizen (and that handgun’s microstamping). I’m sure you can think of a number of things a criminal could do with a shell casing you’ve fired – which contains your handgun’s unique gun microstamping. That’s a scary thought!
2) The cost to implement this technology will significantly increase the cost of handguns. Since a large number of crimes are committed with stolen handguns – once again – the law abiding citizen would be paying the price for criminal behavior. Additionally, everyone knows that liberal politicians would like to eliminate handguns completely. Any legislation promoting flawed ideas - such as gun microstamping would be placing a “stamp of approval” on a much larger left-wing political agenda.
3) Many handgun enthusiasts choose to reload ammunition and shoot it again. Used handgun casings are readily available for anyone with reloading equipment and a desire to reload ammunition. The high cost of ammunition drives the reloading market. Put simply, many handgun cartridges will end up with a large number of “gun microstamps”. Identifying the handgun that fired a particular casing could become as complicated as sorting through a large number of fingerprints on one doorknob at a grocery store – guessing at which set of fingerprints belongs to the person who stole the apple.
4) While it would be nice to be able to use a technology such as gun microstamping to help reduce criminal behavior – it misses the mark by putting the focus on the gun – rather than focusing on the criminal and the crimes. Less victims = lower crime? Think about it…. How do you lower the number of potential victims? It’s widely known that criminals like to target individuals who look and act like victims. Do you think a law abiding citizen who is legally carrying a concealed handgun – for the purpose of self-defense against the potential of deadly harm – would be looking and acting like a victim?
References:
1 GUN MICROSTAMPING DEMONSTRATION CONDUCTED TODAY
E Lawrence Welch
2nd Amendment Watch Blog
Pyle Mountain Holsters
Put simply, gun microstamping is a technology whereby a handgun stamps a very small identification mark on each shell casing when fired in that handgun. The idea is that law enforcement would be able to collect these shell casings (complete with identifying information) at the scene of the crime – allowing them to trace the gun back to the criminal. This sounds ok until you start thinking about it logically.
1) Shooting ranges across the United States are filled with shell casings – legally fired from the handguns of law abiding citizens. Most shooting ranges require you to collect your “brass” as it’s called – prior to leaving the range. However, as any target shooter will tell you – there’s usually a few shell casings that get away. This means that anyone who finds the casings later will be in possession of a handgun cartridge legally fired from the handgun of a law abiding citizen (and that handgun’s microstamping). I’m sure you can think of a number of things a criminal could do with a shell casing you’ve fired – which contains your handgun’s unique gun microstamping. That’s a scary thought!
2) The cost to implement this technology will significantly increase the cost of handguns. Since a large number of crimes are committed with stolen handguns – once again – the law abiding citizen would be paying the price for criminal behavior. Additionally, everyone knows that liberal politicians would like to eliminate handguns completely. Any legislation promoting flawed ideas - such as gun microstamping would be placing a “stamp of approval” on a much larger left-wing political agenda.
3) Many handgun enthusiasts choose to reload ammunition and shoot it again. Used handgun casings are readily available for anyone with reloading equipment and a desire to reload ammunition. The high cost of ammunition drives the reloading market. Put simply, many handgun cartridges will end up with a large number of “gun microstamps”. Identifying the handgun that fired a particular casing could become as complicated as sorting through a large number of fingerprints on one doorknob at a grocery store – guessing at which set of fingerprints belongs to the person who stole the apple.
4) While it would be nice to be able to use a technology such as gun microstamping to help reduce criminal behavior – it misses the mark by putting the focus on the gun – rather than focusing on the criminal and the crimes. Less victims = lower crime? Think about it…. How do you lower the number of potential victims? It’s widely known that criminals like to target individuals who look and act like victims. Do you think a law abiding citizen who is legally carrying a concealed handgun – for the purpose of self-defense against the potential of deadly harm – would be looking and acting like a victim?
References:
1 GUN MICROSTAMPING DEMONSTRATION CONDUCTED TODAY
E Lawrence Welch
2nd Amendment Watch Blog
Pyle Mountain Holsters
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