Microstamping!
looked at or touched the breech
face, leaving those marks intact,
even after claiming knowledge of
the technology.
Another study, similar to that
reported by the ATFE, was also
undertaken by the Forensic Science
Graduate Group at the University
of California, Davis, attempting to
investigate the same questions already posed.
Their results, well-publicized
by a number of third-party organizations like the National Shooting
Sports Foundation, include findings of variability in the quality
and legibility of the mark transfers
to the cartridge case; overall durability of the engraved characters
after repeated firings (despite some
instances of degradation or flattening of the characters);
and that the micro characters could be easily destroyed
when the firing pin was removed from the firearm (but
6.
6: Similar to #3, before and after intentional defacement.
not when it remained in place).
The study’s policy recommendation was: “At the
present time, therefore, because its forensic potential
has yet to be fully assessed, a mandate for the implementation of this technology in all new semiautomatic
handguns sold in the state of California is counter-in-dicated. We specifically propose further research on
alpha-numeric serial numbers on firearms mostly in
gang related shootings, suitability of such alpha-numeric imprint on fired cartridge case areas other than
the soft primer area, realistic and accurate production
cost estimates for such micro-engraving, and a evaluation as to what percent of gang related shooting could
realistically be solved by such technology given current
gang firearms usage.”
IAC 1911 SSR_AD-Vertical_ver#2 12/3/09 9:21 PM Page 1
Additional input on this technology from a reputa-
ble research organization (The National Academies, in-
cluding the National Academy of Sciences) was relative
to a 2008 study in which they found problems with the
prospect of establishing a national database of ballistic
imaging, but called microstamping a “promising alter-
native.”
Nevertheless, the same study report urged “more
in-depth studies… on the durability of microstamped
marks under various firing conditions and their suscep-
tibility to tampering, as well as on their cost impact for
manufacturers and consumers.”
Another issue surrounding the potential implemen-
tation of this technology has been one of patent holding.
In February of this year, the NSSF reported in its update
of the microstamping technology that the process re-
mains patented and sole-sourced; further, that update
indicates that the current California legislation requires
that the technology be available to more than one man-
Continued on page 71
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