In October, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a smart new law that will help police apprehend violent criminals and deter the gun traffickers who supply them. The measure requires that all new semiautomatic pistols sold in the state starting in 2010 be equipped with technology known as microstamping, which will allow police to quickly match empty bullet casings to the weapon that fired them.
Legislation that would extend that requirement nationwide has just been introduced in both houses of Congress. It deserves full support from lawmakers of both parties, and both sides of the gun control debate.
The microstamping process uses lasers to make microscopic markings on a gun’s firing pin and other internal surfaces, identifying the weapon’s make, model and serial number. When the gun is fired, this information is stamped onto the bullet casing, providing an immediate lead for investigators to pursue when casings ejected from the weapon are found at a crime scene.
Sponsored by Senator Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts and Representative Xavier Becerra of California, both Democrats, the legislation would not require weapons manufactured before 2010 to be brought back to a gun shop for retrofitting. The measure’s law enforcement value would grow over time, as older guns get replaced with new models equipped with microstamping.
The National Rifle Association, nevertheless, rejected pleas from the law enforcement community and waged a fierce battle to try to defeat the California law. The powerful gun lobby can be expected to fight even harder on Capitol Hill.
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microstamping
man, this is about the stupidest law yet.......firstly it will never ever work. secondly, if this is to be enacted, lets give everyone 2 solid freakin years,PLUS to buy all if the handguns humanly possible. i personally own over 400 handguns in every shape and size. plus, when this "microstamping" bull goes into effect in 2010, the value of NON etched handguns in the state of california is going to double or triple, and guys like me will make a million bucks easy......
i never thought is see the day when california could get any freakin stupider
also, whats to keep anyone from popping over to nevada or oregon and buying all the used private party handguns from gunshows,etc they can lay there hands on? furthermore, files are cheap. if the stampings that small, how are the cops going to know if the gun has microstamping or not unless they take the gun into custody, send it to the lab, test fire it, and then examine it under a microscope?
i go out to the shooting range about every day. what would keep someone from picking up spent cases and planting them at a crime scene?
absolutely nothing...
this whole thing is a farking joke
firstly it will never ever
Sure it will...if all manufacturers and importers are compelled by law to comply. Which is what the discussion is about.
You don't sound like a collector and you don't hunt with handguns. Neither do yu need 400 handguns for self defense.
I think you're dangerous. And I think your exceptions are silly. What's to stop abortions if they are made illegal? What's to stop bank robberies.
You can always dream up a way to get around the law. So should we abandon all laws?