Things That Make You Say....hmmmm.....

by Richard Belmore

Firearms Microstamping Study Bill Introduced in U.S. House

U.S. Congressman Dan Boren introduced legislation this week (H.R. 5667) to direct the U.S. Attorney General to work with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a comprehensive study of firearm microstamping. NSSF supports this bipartisan legislation as a means of ensuring adequate research of microstamping is completed, and the concept is proven to work reliably, prior to states mandating microstamping through the legislative process.

Firearms microstamping is a patented process that laser engraves the firearm's make, model and serial number on the tip of the gun's firing pin so that, in theory, it imprints the information on discharged cartridge cases. Every independent study to examine the concept of microstamping has determined that it does not function reliably and is flawed.

NSSF thanks Rep. Boren (D – Okla.) for sponsoring this bill and  Reps. Broun (R-Ga.), Bishop (R-Utah), Herseth Sandlin (D-SD), Altmire (D-Pa.), Miller (R-Fl.) and Boozman (R- Ark.) for co-sponsoring this commonsense measure.

Bla bla bla…..ya know…..all it takes is a little bit of lapping compound, or a file, or removal of the firing pin and a little polishing to defeat microstamping…. Hmmm…. The proposal of microstamping is a complete waste of out taxpayer dollars. Who is paying for the research?? Hmmm.......that would be the taxpayer….unless someone could find a research center to work for free..hmmm.

So let me think… if a criminal uses a revolver in a crime….microstamping will work only if the fool decides to empty the spent cartridges at the scene…hmmm. Oh and by the way. the gun used in the crime would have to have the new and improved firing pin…hmmmm.

Will this proposal help solve crimes?.... The answer is not just no but Hell no. Let’s face it fingerprints solve fewer than 25% of crimes. In order for fingerprints to solve a crime, the fingerprints must be retrievable from the crime scene, and the fingerprints must be on file with the FBI. Without the two pieces of the puzzle the crime cannot be solved with fingerprints. Likewise, a crime committed with a pistol, to be solved by microstamping, the gun would have to be the politically correct “recorded” firearm, and the cartridges would have to be recovered at the scene.

An alternate solution…takes the money proposed for microstamping (which is wasted taxpayer money) and hire additional law enforcement officers. Quit demonizing guns and demonize the crime. A gun cannot commit a crime by itself, it need assistance.

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