Fact: The National Research Council deemed a national ballistics database as impractical due to practical limitations of current technology for generating and comparing images of ballistic markings.1
Fact: Maryland’s ballistics database “is not doing anything”2 and “has not met the mission statement of the state police.”3 In the first five years of implementation, it failed to [...]
Posts from ‘February, 2009’
Myth: A database of ballistic profiles will allow police to trace gun crimes
Myth: Every firearm leaves a unique “fingerprint” that can pinpoint the firearm used
Fact: A group of National Research Council scientists concluded that this has not yet been fully demonstrated. Their research suggests that current technology for collecting and comparing images may not reliably distinguish very fine differences.1
Fact: “Firearms that generate markings on cartridge casings can change with use and can also be readily altered by the users. [...]
Myth: 25-50% of the vendors at most gun shows are “unlicensed dealers”
Fact: There is no such thing as an “unlicensed dealer,” except for people who buy and sell antique – curio – firearms as a hobby.
Fact: This 25-50% figure can only be achieved if you include those dealers not selling guns at these shows. These non-gun dealers include knife makers, ammunition dealers, accessories dealers, military artifact [...]
