The Uses and Challenges of Firearm Microstamping
Firearm use is prevalent in many areas of the world and although many firearms have been obtained and are in use legally, there are also plenty that are being traded and used illegally. With firearm microstamping technology, manufacturers, police authorities and private organizations hope that identifying guns and tracing their ownership and history will be much easier and more efficient.
What is firearm microstamping?
Firearm microstamping is an important technology that helps identify a firearm by engraving an identifier on the gun’s cartridge. The identifier is unique enough to help authorities and investigators to trace a particular firearm in case it is fired in a crime scene. The identifier lets forensics connect the specific gun used to that particular scene. Firearm microstamping is also called ballistic engraving and ballistic imprinting.
How is firearm microstamping done?
The uniqueness of each gun chamber and its effect on bullet casings or cartridges has been used as a reference in forensics for many years in order to solve crimes. During the firing of the gun, extreme heat and pressure occurs inside the gun chamber. This causes the bullet casing to be forged. As it leaves the chamber, the casing will carry any specific markings found inside the gun chamber, regardless of their size. In forensics, this is referred to as ballistic fingerprinting and has been a relatively successful technology when used in fighting and solving gun-related crimes.
Firearm microstamping takes this several steps further. A technology involving ballistic imprinting was developed by Todd Lizotte, which involves the engraving of a microscopic identifier on the gun containing important information about it. This information includes the make, serial number and model of the firearm. Since no two guns have the same serial numbers, the identifier will help narrow down the search to a particular firearm owned by a particular person. The technology is such that several bullet casings may be used to trace the origin of the gun in question, allowing authorities to find out about its manufacturer, distributor, dealer and eventually, its customer or at least its first buyer.
As to the issue on which part exactly of the firearm the microstamping should occur is still under proposal. The most popular choice so far is the firing pin, primarily because it can stamp the primer and because the firing pin is very durable.
Theoretically, with firearm microstamping, it will be possible for forensics or police investigators to match a fired gun casing found in the scene of a crime to the firearm’s registered owner.
The company ID Dynamics now owns the idea and process involved in firearm microstamping.
The problem with firearm microstamping
The promise presented by the technology involved in firearm microstamping is highly anticipated but there are certain challenges ahead. One, not every state regulates the sale of firearms, which will make it difficult to use the paper trail necessary to trace the ownership (and transfer of ownership) of a particular gun. It becomes more difficult to track down subsequent owners if the firearm changes hands several times among private individuals. Second, the technology is new and there are no studies yet that prove its efficiency and efficacy, making it difficult to make a case for its use in law enforcement and crime solving. This is why it is also difficult for sectors in the society who oppose the imposition of legal requirements for gun control to support firearm microstamping.
Another problem is that not all firearms will undergo the technology. Firearms sold to police and other law enforcement groups, for example, are exempted from microstamping. In case a police officer’s gun is used in a crime or stolen and used in a crime, it will be difficult to trace. The microstamping can also be deliberately tampered with, should the user choose to do so.
Using the firing pin may also have its problems. The firing pin may be very durable but it is by no means invulnerable. Among gun components, it is the firing pin that is generally replaced when the gun is used frequently or when multiple rounds are fired. Since the technology is also rather expensive, the cost will be shouldered by the end users – customers who buy the guns.
The use of inspection microscopes in firearm microstamping
This technology is well-intentioned but it still needs to be refined in order to become a reliable way for law enforcement to identify gun users in case a crime is committed using guns. The technology is very promising, however, allowing authorities and investigators to easily determine the identity of the gun and its owner by simply viewing the telltale marks using an inspection microscope. Imprinting marks can be easily viewed on the cartridge cases under low to medium power magnification and the imprints verified.
The future of firearm microstamping
Firearm microstamping in many states in the U.S. is still not implemented. California, for example, tried to pass an Assembly Bill that would require guns sold within the state to be microstamped and for the Attorney General to impose regulations requiring that serial numbers be used for ammunitions. The bill, known as AB 352, lost by 4 votes in August 2006. In other states, similar bills continue to be introduced. It is still unsure whether firearm microstamping will succeed as a legal requirement. However, there are interested parties that just might have this technology realized in the future.
For more information, please visit inspection-microscope.com.
