Okay I have to ask since nobody seems to be what are the possible side effects to law abiding citizens?
There are plenty of negative sides to microstamping. First of all, it is a ineffective method for tracking criminal activity or stolen firearms. Microstamping technology is explained here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firearm_microstampingClaims made by the opponents of the technology include:
* Stamped casing can only be traced to the last registered owner, not to the person who used the gun when the casings were stamped. In the case of a stolen gun, as is the case for most firearms used in crime, the stamped case would not lead to the criminal.
* Unscrupulous individuals could collect discarded brass from a firing range and salt crime scenes with microstamped cases, thereby providing false evidence against innocent people and increasing the workload for investigators.[2]
* High costs for testing the efficacy of the technique must be passed on to customers, increasing the cost of firearms for those who obtain them legally. [2]
* Micostamping is easily defeated. Diamond coated files are inexpensive and will remove microstamping. Firing pins are normally replaceable and can be changed with simple tools. Firing a large number of rounds will wear down the microstamp.[2] Marked components such as slides, barrels, firing pins and ejectors are all easily and commonly replaced items.[3]
* Microstamping is an immature, sole source technology, and has not been subjected to sufficient independent testing. Transfer of microstamped marks to the cases is less reliable than proponents claim.[2]
Specific to California, opponents say:
* Firearms sold to law-enforcement are exempt. Problems could arise if a police officer's firearm is used in a crime or stolen, and the fact that a firearm is "unsafe" if not provided with stamping technology exposes the police to liability.[4]
* Guns manufactured before an effective date are exempt and the bill does not extend to guns outside of California. There's no possibility that this bill would ever cover enough guns to provide the investigative advantage claimed for it by the proponents.[2]
* Failures of the microstamping parts of a firearms makes it "unsafe" under the California law, which then becomes illegal to sell, give or lend under existing law.[5]
Topic: New York State Microstamping Bill (Read 3222 times)