California Legislature pass "microstamping" bill

[hammAR]

Gun Control Bill Heads to California Governor
By Susan Jones
CNSNews.com Senior Editor
September 11, 2007

(CNSNews.com) - A gun control group is praising the California Legislature for passing a "microstamping" bill. Supporters say it will help police trace guns used in crimes. But Second Amendment supporters call it back-door gun control, and they are urging Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to veto it.

Microstamping would give police an "important new tool in solving gun crimes," the Brady Campaign said in a news release. But the National Shooting Sports Foundation has called the bill a de facto ban of firearms" that would price guns out of the California market.

The Crime Gun Identification Act (AB 1471) would require all new models of semiautomatic pistols sold in California after 2010 to be microstamped, or microscopically engraved, with their make, model and identification number.

Theoretically, the microstamping would be transferred onto the cartridge casing when the handgun is fired, allowing police to match bullet casings found at crime scenes with the gun that fired the bullet.

Critics say the technology is vulnerable to tampering -- the laser engraving can be scratched and altered. And even if the technology does work, it won't prevent criminals from using the stamped guns, critics argue.

The Golden State 2nd Amendment Council noted that "crime scenes could easily be contaminated by a criminal throwing down a handful of shell casings he picked up from the local gun range."

Law-abiding citizens could have their weapons confiscated - and they might be arrested -- unless they could prove they were nowhere near the crime scene, the group said in a letter to California lawmakers.

But gun control advocates call the bill's passage a "major victory" for California police officers.

"This proven technology will help law enforcement apprehend armed gang members and criminals before they inflict more harm on others, including innocent bystanders," said Brady Campaign President Paul Helmke. "Giving police tools like this is the common-sense thing to do."

Kay Holmen, the president of the California Brady Campaign Chapters, said with nearly half of all crimes going unsolved in California, "microstamping technology will provide our police officers with solid leads to put armed criminals behind bars."

But Second Amendment supporters say the bill is back-door gun control: "Firearm manufacturers have indicated that passage of microstamping legislation would force them to stop sales in California because they would have to completely reconfigure their manufacturing and assembly process," the National Shooting Sports Foundation said.

"Compelling the use of this unreliable, sole-sourced technology will dramatically reduce the product selection available to law-abiding consumers in California," said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF senior vice president and general counsel.

"Many manufacturers will choose to abandon the California market rather than incur substantial costs associated with complying with microstamping legislation, he added.

Moreover, Second Amendment supporters point to several studies showing that microstamping technology is unreliable - not proven to work as advertised.

Gov. Schwarzenegger has not said if he'll sign the bill. A similar bill (AB 352) failed in the California Legislature last year.

[Pinnacle]

Man - talk about nonsensical.

[cobb]

"Many manufacturers will choose to abandon the California market rather than incur substantial costs associated with complying with microstamping legislation, he added."

Sad if this happens and everyone will blame it on the manufacture because they put $$$$ ahead of saving lives.

[EAJuggalo]

I've heard a few people clamoring for manufacturers to like Barrett did when Kalifornia banned the .50 rifle. They won't sell direct to any CA LEOs or accept shipment of any firearms for repair work from a department in CA. The Departments have to drive the rifle out to Barrett to get the work done.

[jac714]

I've heard a few people clamoring for manufacturers to like Barrett did when Kalifornia banned the .50 rifle. They won't sell direct to any CA LEOs or accept shipment of any firearms for repair work from a department in CA. The Departments have to drive the rifle out to Barrett to get the work done.

I've heard he actually will not even service his guns for california law enforcement.

[gunflint]

If the gun manufacturers no longer sell their product in Kalifornia and yet don't cut production, they may have to drop their prices to meet their quotas. Or will they have to raise their prices elsewhere to make up the difference? I do love the free market system.

[joelr]

Well, that'll have an obvious side effect, if it becomes law: there'll be lots and lots of "new models" in 2008-2010, to make sure to get them grandfathered in before the law goes into effect. After that, manufacturers will bring back old models, to make sure that they can still serve the California market.

Yay -- old-style "lemon squeezer" revolvers!

[joelr]

I've heard a few people clamoring for manufacturers to like Barrett did when Kalifornia banned the .50 rifle. They won't sell direct to any CA LEOs or accept shipment of any firearms for repair work from a department in CA. The Departments have to drive the rifle out to Barrett to get the work done.

They won't, and maybe they shouldn't. Most of them can't pass up the CA market. Barrett is in a special category -- and if the PD snipers actually end up having to do without .50 BMG rifles (and they won't; there are other alternatives), it's not like .308 or .30-06 ones won't do.

[Srigs]

Stupid easy to get around "microstamping" with sand paper and a pencil.

[Leonidas]

Stupid easy to get around "microstamping" with sand paper and a pencil.

Use a revolver............duh

Also, is that a real picture of you?

[ttousi]

yes it is............looks remarkably like his cousin Bill.

[Leonidas]

yes it is............looks remarkably like his cousin Bill.

You mean the guy in Rain Man..........