MD: State Issues Gun 'Fingerprint' Contract

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MARYLAND http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28977-2000Aug3.html
State Issues Gun 'Fingerprint' Contract

A contract that will make Maryland the first state to maintain a computerized "ballistic fingerprint" of every new handgun sold in the state was approved yesterday by the state Board of Public Works.

Beginning Oct. 1, new handguns shipped into Maryland must include the casing of a bullet test fired by the manufacturer. Gun dealers will have to provide the casing, along with the name of the person buying the gun, to
state police when the weapon is sold.

Forensic Technology Inc., of Rockville, was awarded a $1.8 million contract to install a system that will store on a computer the unique markings left on the shell casing by each of the estimated 30,000 handguns sold each
year.

Col. David B. Mitchell, the state police superintendent, said the ballistic fingerprints will give police agencies an important new tool to help solve crimes in which guns are fired.

When a casing found at the crime scene matches a casing in the database, it "gives us an instant lead to investigate," Mitchell said.

The ballistic fingerprinting requirement was included in the gun control bill of Gov. Parris N. Glendening (D) and was approved by the General Assembly this year. The main thrust of the law is to require that all
handguns sold in Maryland beginning in 2003 be equipped with built-in locking mechanisms allowing them to be fired only by an authorized user.
 
Better start picking up your brass at the range. Sounds like it might be pretty easy to set someone up for a frame up with some of their used brass.
 
Wow! I hadn't thought of that. Keepin my brass from now on!!

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Thane (NRA GOA JPFO SAF CAN)
MD C.A.N.OP
tbellomo@home.com
http://homes.acmecity.com/thematrix/digital/237/cansite/can.html
www.members.home.net/tbellomo/tbellomo/index.htm
"As nightfall does not come at once, neither does oppression.
In both instances there is a twilight when everything remains
seemingly unchanged. And it is in such twilight that we all
must be most aware of change in the air - however slight -
lest we become unwitting victims of the darkness."
--Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas
 
Wouldn't it be easier to just identify gun owners with some kind of serial number? Maybe a tattoo on the arm, just to make sure there's no fudgin' the system.

:rolleyes:
 
Wanna bet that in a few months some soccer mom will come to the realization that guns can wear or be repaired by unregulated smiths and as such the BS fingerprints can be rendered useless. This will of course be followed up with legislation stating that just like your car you have to have your gun inspected/printed every year for a nominal fee of course. If they cant ban them they will make it miserable for you to own them.

No simple tatoos can be covered up. Bio-chips that can track your every move are better.

[This message has been edited by TAZ (edited August 03, 2000).]
 
The incrimination by spent brass deal cuts both ways, unless Police guns are not fingerprinted.

There will be pre fingerprint inventory for a little while yet. Lets see one per month and the new "Safety" features laws are impowered 2003.

Buy 'em now & make plans to move out of MD

dZ
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Buy 'em now & make plans to move out of MD[/quote]

I picked up my new SiG 245 last week, and my sister has already started the Edwards' migration back to the great Republic of Texas (Mom was born and raised in Plano, my sister moved from Deleware to McKinney last week, and those of us left in MD aren't going to be too far behind ).

Why I'm not there yet can only be explained by my wife (who wasn't my wife when I originally planned to move back to Texas 5 years ago), and my son, who just turned 1yr old... go figure ;^).

Now, if I can just convince my associates in Alaska that Texas isn't all that bad...
 
The part I have the most problem with is the name of the person with the gun. It is gun owner registration. I dont have a problem with creating technology to allow better tracking of guns used in a crime. Give the government all the shell casings and serial numbers. Let them sift through them and create a national instant shell checking system. Any detective in the country could then look up and request a warrent for a trace of the guns history from the court. This shouldn't impact the rights of gun owners anywhere.

That to me is a very persuasive argument against any kind of scheme like this. I dont believe the benefits outweigh the potential negative consequences. Shell casings aren't like DNA, the "pattern" of the firing pin does not stay constant over the life of the gun. Fatigue, wear, damage, tampering. All these render the schemes moot for criminals (who are already breaking existing laws when they feel they can get away with it.)

Later...
Keith


[This message has been edited by KAM_Indianapolis (edited August 04, 2000).]
 
Are small files, 400 grit sandpaper and Chore-Boy stainless very expensive in Maryland? If so drop me a note and I'll send a "Care Package". :D

RKBA!
 
As i have posted before, once they "find out" how easy it is to alter random machine marks in a chamber, they will discover the need to have the cylinder etched with a serial number.

Removal of this "safety registration" will be a felony.

dZ
 
When are the manufacturers going to take some testosterone shots and tell people like MD that no more guns will be shipped?

NJ and MD: Two states that I hope would succeed.

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"When guns are outlawed;I will be an outlaw."
 
TAZ- You don`t have to be a gun smith.See westexs post. Right on westex.

DZ- I do not know about the cylinder etch thing,how will that change some sand paper modification? Please explain.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Wouldn't it be easier to just identify gun owners with some kind of serial number? Maybe a tattoo on the arm, just to make sure there's no fudgin' the system.[/quote]

Yeah, a number tatooed on the forearm, and an armband identifying gunowners so that there is no confusion.

Hmm, that idea sounds oddly familiar.....
 
This database will not be up and running before the Maryland legislature clamps down on spare parts such as barrels and firingpins. They will also have to license gunsmiths. That means they will have to outlaw Everyman making adjustments to legally purchased and used weapons. Since there is too many Everyman out there, they will have to control access to the tools used illegally by Everyman in adjusting legally owned and used firearms. My guess is the use of a garden variety file will become a felony. Trouble is not all files are used by gun nuts. Some are used for totally unrelated purposes. Looks like the state will have to institute a check to make sure purchasers of files will not use them for criminal activity. Maybe MD needs a 3 or 7 or 10 waiting period on the purchase of a file. Hey, let's don't stop there! Those files really should be locked up. MD needs a law requiring all files to be locked out of the reached of juveniles. Now since the state can not trust it citizens to properly use and store a file, maybe they need to be locked away in a File Club. That's it, a File Club. That way the state can monitor who is using files. . . . . .

Once you start down that road, there is no limit to the assinine extent fascists will go.

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Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.

Barry Goldwater--1964
 
i stopped in a local shop to look at the CZ 75 tonight. The guy at the shop said the fingerprint requirement is voluntary, if the manufacturer provides the casing, it gets sent in.

dZ
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Jack 99:
Wouldn't it be easier to just identify gun owners with some kind of serial number? Maybe a tattoo on the arm, just to make sure there's no fudgin' the system.

:rolleyes:[/quote]

That has been done (though not all of them were gun onwers) before. It could (and did) happen here in the US.



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Dead [Black Ops]
 
And when said gun is stolen before ballistic fingerprinting is done? What good is this? Again more gun control aimed and screwing the law abiders!

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Try to take away my gun...and you will see my 2nd Amendment Right in ACTION!!! -Me
 
And just how do they get fingerprints from shops that are inside city limits that have a "No guns fired in city limits" law?

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Tonkin Gulf Yacht Club
68-70
 
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