Bill Number:S4397
These are the 5 most important calls you will make this month.
Please call each senator below and ask them to vote against the Microstamping bill
Senator Antoine M. Thompson (518) 455-3371
Senator William T. Stachowski (518) 455-2426
Senator Darrel J. Aubertine (518) 455-2761
Senator David J. Valesky (518) 455-2838
Senator Dean G. Skelos (518) 455-3171
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Fox Production Banned in Denmark
From my friend in the fur industry~ blackpowderbill.blogspot.com
Fox Production Banned in Denmark
On Friday 29th May the Danish Parliament passed a law to ban the farming of foxes, on “ethical” grounds, despite the strong arguments put up by the Danish Fur Breeders Association over many years. Please see a statement issued by Kopenhagen Fur attached. The farming of foxes will be phased out over 15 years for farmers who farm foxes as their main activity, and within 7 years for those who also farm other species. The Danish Parliament did not vote for financial compensation. Danish Fur Breeders Association will now mount a legal challenge to the ban.
The Danish parliament questions people's right to keep animals.
After a few decades of debate on fox breeding in Denmark, it now appears that a majority in parliament will allow fox breeders to continue the current production until 2023. This is the status after parliament’s decision of a bill on banning fox breeding. Taking into account the level of the politicians' handling of the fox question, Danish Fur Breeders Association describes this result as fantastic - in the original sense of the word. The past year or so politicians have assessed three alternatives: 1) An immediate prohibition with compensation for expropriation to farmers, 2) A phase-out in 15 years and 3) A revised recommendation on fur farming based on facts. Danish Fur Breeders Association has obviously worked actively for model 3, where we have submitted specific proposals and drawn attention to the professional knowledge and research that exist in this area. The association has repeatedly suggested that experts should be allowed to make a specific proposal for future legislation. All statements and answers to parliamentary questions from the Food Committee (see http://www.ft.dk/, documents re. L80) point unequivocally to the fact that it is possible to define housing systems and management routines for farmed foxes that ensure that the welfare of farmed foxes is just as good as the welfare of other farmed animals.
However, it has long been clear that a parliamentary majority did not wish to take account of the factual arguments and knowledge, but would rather build on a strong Disney-dominated view of what animals need. But then it probably also applies to chickens, pigs and canaries? Must human relations to these animals also be phased out?
With a ban on fox breeding the politicians adopt the winding-up of a business, but at the same time recognize - with the law coming into force 15 years from now – that the very same business cannot be closed down for factual arguments on animal welfare, because in this case the production would have to be closed down with immediate effect.
Populism and lack of consistency in the logic of so-called animal friends’ and politicians' handling of animal welfare and ethics are striking. This is disclosed in a much discussed report on eating cat (featured in the magazine of the school of journalism in 2008), and COOP's magazine, Samvirke (juni/2008), which featured a whole theme with examples that legislators’ in misunderstood goodness -- and attempts to appeal to voters - have come out wrong. Similarly, the President of the Animal Ethics Council, Professor Peter Sandøe has been quoted for warning against “treating everything like Bambi” in the daily newspaper, Politiken.
After the decision in parliament the trade will take the matter to court since the parliament’s infringement is unjustified, disproportionate and, moreover, in flagrant breach of EU rules. Therefore, the affected farmers must live with uncertainty for several more years to come.
It is a serious problem for the entire population if parliament makes laws based on emotions and narrow vegan ethics - rather than on the ethical basis which 99% of the population acknowledges, namely that people may use animals and products derived from animals. If this principle is now waived what is the next? Phasing out animals or products such as eggs, silk, chops, hamsters, leather, yogurt, insulin or cage birds? With such politics parliament will be at odds with a fundamental point of view of virtually the entire population.
Fox Production Banned in Denmark
On Friday 29th May the Danish Parliament passed a law to ban the farming of foxes, on “ethical” grounds, despite the strong arguments put up by the Danish Fur Breeders Association over many years. Please see a statement issued by Kopenhagen Fur attached. The farming of foxes will be phased out over 15 years for farmers who farm foxes as their main activity, and within 7 years for those who also farm other species. The Danish Parliament did not vote for financial compensation. Danish Fur Breeders Association will now mount a legal challenge to the ban.
The Danish parliament questions people's right to keep animals.
After a few decades of debate on fox breeding in Denmark, it now appears that a majority in parliament will allow fox breeders to continue the current production until 2023. This is the status after parliament’s decision of a bill on banning fox breeding. Taking into account the level of the politicians' handling of the fox question, Danish Fur Breeders Association describes this result as fantastic - in the original sense of the word. The past year or so politicians have assessed three alternatives: 1) An immediate prohibition with compensation for expropriation to farmers, 2) A phase-out in 15 years and 3) A revised recommendation on fur farming based on facts. Danish Fur Breeders Association has obviously worked actively for model 3, where we have submitted specific proposals and drawn attention to the professional knowledge and research that exist in this area. The association has repeatedly suggested that experts should be allowed to make a specific proposal for future legislation. All statements and answers to parliamentary questions from the Food Committee (see http://www.ft.dk/, documents re. L80) point unequivocally to the fact that it is possible to define housing systems and management routines for farmed foxes that ensure that the welfare of farmed foxes is just as good as the welfare of other farmed animals.
However, it has long been clear that a parliamentary majority did not wish to take account of the factual arguments and knowledge, but would rather build on a strong Disney-dominated view of what animals need. But then it probably also applies to chickens, pigs and canaries? Must human relations to these animals also be phased out?
With a ban on fox breeding the politicians adopt the winding-up of a business, but at the same time recognize - with the law coming into force 15 years from now – that the very same business cannot be closed down for factual arguments on animal welfare, because in this case the production would have to be closed down with immediate effect.
Populism and lack of consistency in the logic of so-called animal friends’ and politicians' handling of animal welfare and ethics are striking. This is disclosed in a much discussed report on eating cat (featured in the magazine of the school of journalism in 2008), and COOP's magazine, Samvirke (juni/2008), which featured a whole theme with examples that legislators’ in misunderstood goodness -- and attempts to appeal to voters - have come out wrong. Similarly, the President of the Animal Ethics Council, Professor Peter Sandøe has been quoted for warning against “treating everything like Bambi” in the daily newspaper, Politiken.
After the decision in parliament the trade will take the matter to court since the parliament’s infringement is unjustified, disproportionate and, moreover, in flagrant breach of EU rules. Therefore, the affected farmers must live with uncertainty for several more years to come.
It is a serious problem for the entire population if parliament makes laws based on emotions and narrow vegan ethics - rather than on the ethical basis which 99% of the population acknowledges, namely that people may use animals and products derived from animals. If this principle is now waived what is the next? Phasing out animals or products such as eggs, silk, chops, hamsters, leather, yogurt, insulin or cage birds? With such politics parliament will be at odds with a fundamental point of view of virtually the entire population.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Bob Oaks votes against bad firearms legislation
ALBANY OFFICE: Room 448, Legislative Office Building, Albany, New York 12248 • 518-455-5655 • FAX: 518-455-5407
DISTRICT OFFICE: 10 Leach Road, Lyons, New York 14489 • 315-946-5166 • FAX: 315-946-5229
E-mail: oaksr@assembly.state.ny.us
Dear Bill,
During the past several months, I have received numerous e-mail messages and calls from my constituents regarding the issue of gun control. Many spoke out against one bill in particular, while others opposed several. I certainly appreciated receiving everyone's thoughts on these proposals.
As you may be aware, a package of gun-related bills was voted on by the Assembly last week. I wanted to provide you with an update on these measures and have listed below the bills that I voted against.
• (A.801-A/S.1598-A) - Requires the renewal of firearms licenses outside the city of New York (vote 87-58);
• (A.5844/S.3098) - Enacts the "Children's Weapon Accident Prevention Act" (vote 95 - 46);
• (A.6468/S.4397) - Requires semi-automatic pistols manufactured or delivered to any licensed dealer in the state to be capable of micro-stamping ammunition (vote 94 - 47);
• (A.1326/S.5228) - Proscribes persons, firms or corporations engaged in retail business of selling firearms from selling, delivering or transferring child operated firearms (vote 94 - 49);
• (A. 7574) - Provides that collateral loan brokers shall store firearms in the same manner as gunsmiths and dealers in firearms are required to store them (vote 106 - 35);
• (A.1093/S.1715) - Requires the creation and imposition of restrictive commercial practices and stringent recordkeeping and reporting to prevent gun sales to criminals (vote 85 - 59);
• (A.2881/S.2379) - Includes possession of armor piercing, frangible or devastator ammunition as criminal possession of a weapon (vote 92 - 50);
• (A.2882-A) - Provides for the submission of expended projectiles and shell casings and guns to the state police pistol and revolver ballistic identification electronic databank (vote 92 - 49);
(Continued)
• (A.3211-A/S.4752) - Bans the sale, possession or use of 50-caliber weapons (vote 90-31);
• (A.5078/S.725) - Amends the definition of disguised gun to include certain guns that are designed and intended to appear to be a toy gun (vote 96 - 46);
• (A.3076) - Establishes a safety course requirement for firearm license (vote 94 - 47); and
• (A.6157) - Relates to banning the possession, sale or manufacture of assault weapons; repealer (vote 88 - 53).
Throughout my years as a state assemblyman, I have been a strong advocate of the rights of gun owners. You can be assured of my continued efforts to work with like-minded colleagues to protect the 2" Amendment rights of our law-abiding citizens and provide more opportunities for our sportswomen and sportsmen.
Thank you again for letting me know of your interest in this important issue. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me whenever I can be of assistance to you.
Sincerely,
ROBERT C. OAKS
Member of Assembly
================
Bob,
Thank You for standing up for NY's firearms owners.
Regards,
Bill
DISTRICT OFFICE: 10 Leach Road, Lyons, New York 14489 • 315-946-5166 • FAX: 315-946-5229
E-mail: oaksr@assembly.state.ny.us
Dear Bill,
During the past several months, I have received numerous e-mail messages and calls from my constituents regarding the issue of gun control. Many spoke out against one bill in particular, while others opposed several. I certainly appreciated receiving everyone's thoughts on these proposals.
As you may be aware, a package of gun-related bills was voted on by the Assembly last week. I wanted to provide you with an update on these measures and have listed below the bills that I voted against.
• (A.801-A/S.1598-A) - Requires the renewal of firearms licenses outside the city of New York (vote 87-58);
• (A.5844/S.3098) - Enacts the "Children's Weapon Accident Prevention Act" (vote 95 - 46);
• (A.6468/S.4397) - Requires semi-automatic pistols manufactured or delivered to any licensed dealer in the state to be capable of micro-stamping ammunition (vote 94 - 47);
• (A.1326/S.5228) - Proscribes persons, firms or corporations engaged in retail business of selling firearms from selling, delivering or transferring child operated firearms (vote 94 - 49);
• (A. 7574) - Provides that collateral loan brokers shall store firearms in the same manner as gunsmiths and dealers in firearms are required to store them (vote 106 - 35);
• (A.1093/S.1715) - Requires the creation and imposition of restrictive commercial practices and stringent recordkeeping and reporting to prevent gun sales to criminals (vote 85 - 59);
• (A.2881/S.2379) - Includes possession of armor piercing, frangible or devastator ammunition as criminal possession of a weapon (vote 92 - 50);
• (A.2882-A) - Provides for the submission of expended projectiles and shell casings and guns to the state police pistol and revolver ballistic identification electronic databank (vote 92 - 49);
(Continued)
• (A.3211-A/S.4752) - Bans the sale, possession or use of 50-caliber weapons (vote 90-31);
• (A.5078/S.725) - Amends the definition of disguised gun to include certain guns that are designed and intended to appear to be a toy gun (vote 96 - 46);
• (A.3076) - Establishes a safety course requirement for firearm license (vote 94 - 47); and
• (A.6157) - Relates to banning the possession, sale or manufacture of assault weapons; repealer (vote 88 - 53).
Throughout my years as a state assemblyman, I have been a strong advocate of the rights of gun owners. You can be assured of my continued efforts to work with like-minded colleagues to protect the 2" Amendment rights of our law-abiding citizens and provide more opportunities for our sportswomen and sportsmen.
Thank you again for letting me know of your interest in this important issue. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me whenever I can be of assistance to you.
Sincerely,
ROBERT C. OAKS
Member of Assembly
================
Bob,
Thank You for standing up for NY's firearms owners.
Regards,
Bill
MISGUIDED GUN CONSTRAINTS FIRE BLANKS
A Legislative Column by Assemblyman Dave Townsend (R,WF-Sylvan Beach)
Last week the New York Assembly voted on a number of measures designed to limit the individual freedoms of our state’s gun owners, unwittingly enhancing the ability of violent criminals to prey on our communities and outlawing safe firearms and ammunition based on dubious scientific and criminological evidence. Over ten bills dealing with firearms storage, rifle specifications, and “microstamping” technology were approved by the Democrat-controlled Assembly on Tuesday. In their appreciation for New Yorkers’ Second Amendment freedoms, these revisions to our gun laws were as flimsy as the paper on which they were drafted.
Though intended to reduce violence related to firearms, the 14 pieces of legislation my colleagues supported will in fact place arbitrary restrictions on law-abiding citizens and drastically reduce or, in some cases, eliminate, the sale of certain guns and ammunition in the Empire State. I appreciate Democrats attempting to take on an emotional issue with well-meaning legislation. Still, the fact remains: The way to reduce gun-related violence is to make a distinction between tolerable and intolerable acts, between lawbreaker and law-abiding citizen.
The series of bills approved by the Assembly instead blurs that distinction, treating crook and sportsmen with the same degree of suspicion. A family or individual has a right to self-defense. We unintentionally empower violent criminals when we take firearms out of the hands of responsible adults.
For example, new trigger rules approved by the Assembly would impose an unreasonable standard on firearms typically used for home protection. Smaller guns such as revolvers already have a 10-pound trigger-pull strength, making them virtually inaccessible to small children, and semi-automatics require that the slide be pulled before firing, a safety precaution intended to eliminate accidental firings. New legislation, however, would transform the design elements of a pistol or revolver to the point where not only children, but those with small hands, limited dexterity or limited strength, would experience difficulty if not outright futility in the gun’s operation. So-called “devastator” ammo would be outlawed under state law, owing to its “armor-piercing” nature. This is curious, since the frangible ammunition targeted by the Assembly Democrats is designed to disintegrate on impact – not exactly the sort of projectile that has any chance of breaking a ballistic vest’s breast-plate. Another measure would ban the use, sale, and possession of any rifle with a center-fire cartridge in .50 caliber or higher, even though no crime has ever been committed with this firearm in New York State and the gun remains popular among hunters and other sportsmen.
During my time in the Assembly, I have fought again and again for policies that cut crime rates and put dangerous criminals behind bars. I also received an A-minus from the National Rifle Association in its 2008 candidate grades. But these gun-law revisions, though perhaps well-meaning, will do almost nothing to keep our communities safe. I voted for our 2nd Amendment rights last Tuesday, and against this ill-conceived legislative agenda.
###
NY State Muzzle Loaders Assn Championship shoot
.
20th
NEW YORK STATE MUZZLE-LOADING ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIPS 20th
AUGUST 22-23 ( 2009) Hosted by Alabama Hunt Club
..... CHAMPIONSHIP AGGREGATE: .....
Match Range, yds Target Position # of shots
1 25 Double 6 bull offhand 5
2 50 100 yd offhand 53 50 6 bull rest 54 100 b17 offhand 10 5 100 100 yd rest 100 6 200 200 yd offhand 10
7 200 b19 rest 5
Non-re-entry aggregates, re-entry in individual matches. Individual matches are round ball only. Agg Possible = 200 points rest, 300 points offhand...total 500. NYS Flint Team Qualification Matches: Inquire
Special 200 yard prize match this year!
..... ..... CLUB TEAM MATCH ..... ..... Sign up for a team when you register.
Fees-Registration: $3 Championship Classes:Camping: FREE Bring wood/water Round Ball: Perc & Flint
Aggregate: $7.00 3 places in Agg, eachTeam Match: no chargeOther: Ladies, Juniors, Slug/Cart, Flint Smoothbore…
Individual Match: $2.00 Individual Match Re-Entry: $1.00**Aggregate will be the same for all classes.**Other classes will be added if shooters express interest.Eye and ear protection requested.. Scoring by CENTER OF BALL.Spotting scopes, shooting jackets, pads, chaw straps, tackle boxes, benches, hoods, wind sticks, unlimited practice, beginners, experts,and confusion: ALLOWED.Championship Agg Awards go to High Scores in each class.Challenge Cup Trophy to Highest Round ball Agg score.1st through 3rd place awards given in RB Championship aggs.Awards for 3 places in yardage matches, roundball only.
Awards may be changed to Certificates, cash, or other prizes.
For directions and information: Dennis Davis
Club Matches: George Buskey
Pre Register: Tom Henley
Contact numbers in the NYSMLA “GroupTightner”
Campers: Bring your own wood and water!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Never give up Bloomberg
These politicians are in need of some postcards, phone calls Emails, etc. I know that its a long list, but even if you could do just a couple. Please do what you could, it would be very appreciated. Even if you don't live in NY State, you can help prevent a law from NY from spreading to another state like a bad disease,
Below is the main part of the article. To read it in full, check out this link---> http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/05/bloomberg-surrounds-himself-wi.html
On the heels of his sit-down with President Barack Obama yesterday and two days after the Manhattan GOP gave him a clean sweep of the city's Republican committees, Mayor Bloomberg appeared at Gracie Mansion with Democratic state lawmakers to announce the formation of a New York chapter of State Legislators Against Illegal Guns. More than 50 Democratic state lawmakers have signed up to join the new group - the offshoot of Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
A national version of this legislative organization was launched last year, with Sen. Eric Schneiderman as one of the founding members.Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith joined Bloomberg for the announcement and thanked the mayor for being a "leader" in the fight to combat gun violence and "return our streets to their rightful owners, the people of New York.
"The founding members of the New York chapter of State Legislators Against Illegal Guns are:
Senator Eric Adams
Senator Neil Breslin
Senator Thomas Duane
Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson
Senator Craig Johnson
Senator Liz Krueger
Senator Velmanette Montgomery
Senator George Onorato
Senator Suzi Oppenheimer
Senator Kevin Parker
Senator Bill Perkins
Senator Eric Schneiderman
Senator Jose Serrano
Senator Malcolm Smith
Senator Daniel Squadron
Senator Toby Stavisky
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Senator Antoine Thompson
Senator John Sampson
Assemblymember Michael Benjamin
Assemblymember Jonathan L. Bing
Assemblymember James Brennan
Assemblymember Karim Camara
Assemblymember Barbara Clark
Assemblymember William Colton
Assemblymember Steven Cymbrowitz
Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz
Assemblymember Patricia Eddington
Assemblymember Steven Englebright
Assemblymember Adriano Espaillat
Assemblymember Herman D. Farrell
Assemblymember Michael Gianaris
Assemblymember Deborah Glick
Assemblymember Richard Gottfried
Assemblymember Carl Heastie
Assemblymember Earlene Hooper
Assemblymember Sam Hoyt
Assemblymember Ellen Jaffee
Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh
Assemblymember Micah Kellner
Assemblymember David Koon
Assemblymember Charles Lavine
Assemblymember Barbara Lifton
Assemblymember Nettie Mayersohn
Assemblymember Daniel O'Donnell
Assemblymember Amy Paulin
Assemblymember Nick Perry
Assemblymember Audrey Pheffer
Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal
Assemblymember Michelle Schimel
Assemblymember Mark Weprin
Assemblymember Harvey Weisenberg
Below is the main part of the article. To read it in full, check out this link---> http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2009/05/bloomberg-surrounds-himself-wi.html
On the heels of his sit-down with President Barack Obama yesterday and two days after the Manhattan GOP gave him a clean sweep of the city's Republican committees, Mayor Bloomberg appeared at Gracie Mansion with Democratic state lawmakers to announce the formation of a New York chapter of State Legislators Against Illegal Guns. More than 50 Democratic state lawmakers have signed up to join the new group - the offshoot of Bloomberg's Mayors Against Illegal Guns.
A national version of this legislative organization was launched last year, with Sen. Eric Schneiderman as one of the founding members.Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith joined Bloomberg for the announcement and thanked the mayor for being a "leader" in the fight to combat gun violence and "return our streets to their rightful owners, the people of New York.
"The founding members of the New York chapter of State Legislators Against Illegal Guns are:
Senator Eric Adams
Senator Neil Breslin
Senator Thomas Duane
Senator Ruth Hassell-Thompson
Senator Craig Johnson
Senator Liz Krueger
Senator Velmanette Montgomery
Senator George Onorato
Senator Suzi Oppenheimer
Senator Kevin Parker
Senator Bill Perkins
Senator Eric Schneiderman
Senator Jose Serrano
Senator Malcolm Smith
Senator Daniel Squadron
Senator Toby Stavisky
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins
Senator Antoine Thompson
Senator John Sampson
Assemblymember Michael Benjamin
Assemblymember Jonathan L. Bing
Assemblymember James Brennan
Assemblymember Karim Camara
Assemblymember Barbara Clark
Assemblymember William Colton
Assemblymember Steven Cymbrowitz
Assemblymember Jeffrey Dinowitz
Assemblymember Patricia Eddington
Assemblymember Steven Englebright
Assemblymember Adriano Espaillat
Assemblymember Herman D. Farrell
Assemblymember Michael Gianaris
Assemblymember Deborah Glick
Assemblymember Richard Gottfried
Assemblymember Carl Heastie
Assemblymember Earlene Hooper
Assemblymember Sam Hoyt
Assemblymember Ellen Jaffee
Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh
Assemblymember Micah Kellner
Assemblymember David Koon
Assemblymember Charles Lavine
Assemblymember Barbara Lifton
Assemblymember Nettie Mayersohn
Assemblymember Daniel O'Donnell
Assemblymember Amy Paulin
Assemblymember Nick Perry
Assemblymember Audrey Pheffer
Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal
Assemblymember Michelle Schimel
Assemblymember Mark Weprin
Assemblymember Harvey Weisenberg
Monday, May 4, 2009
Microstamping Not Ready for Prime Time
Note: this was sent out as a press release and to all our State Senators along with our complete position paper on microstamping.
Ken
Microstamping Not Ready for Prime Time
A6468/S4397 would require semiautomatic pistols to be capable of microstamping a cartridge case with an alphanumeric or geometric identifier containing the make, model, and serial number of the firearm when fired. The purpose of the bill is to enable law enforcement to identify the firearm used in a shooting incident when only the fired cartridge cases are recovered at the scene.
While the concept of firearms microstamping, if it could be fully developed and properly implemented, would be an attractive forensic tool, the technology remains unproven at this time. Some of the issues are:
The ability of the technology to reliable transfer an identifier containing sufficient data has not been proven. Testing has been done with identifiers comprised of only half the number of characters needed to contain the data required.
The quality of the impressions is negatively impacted by the normal cycling of the firearm. The firing cycle of a handgun involves violent motion and multiple high-pressure impacts that distort the image and limit the data recovery rate.
The durability of the image over the life of the firearm is questionable. Tests have shown softening of the character sharpness, distortion, and peening after the firing of as little as 1000 rounds.
Microstamps are easily removed by grinding or parts replacement. Firearms are made to be serviced. Disassembly and parts replacement require little time and no special skill.
The only firearms that would be microstamped are those legally sold in the State. These are the ones least likely to be used in criminal activity. A trace will only identify the original legal purchaser and will be of little forensic value if the firearm has changed hands legally or otherwise.
The proponents of this bill purport that it will provide law enforcement with a powerful tool to help in the investigation of violent crime. We believe that this is, at best, an emerging technology whose efficacy has yet to be proven. From the peer reviewed testing that has been published, substantial development and testing remain to be done.
If the technology does prove viable, it will only be effective if implemented at the Federal level. Enactment at this time would result in very expensive "feel good" legislation that can only provide a false sense of security in the face of a very real crime problem.
The CoBIS system in its nine year plus life has proven to be a multi-million dollar failure as multiple studies indicated it would be. We don't need another CoBIS like failure, this legislation should not be enacted.
WWW.SCOPEny.org
Director @ Large
BlackPowderBill
Ken
Microstamping Not Ready for Prime Time
A6468/S4397 would require semiautomatic pistols to be capable of microstamping a cartridge case with an alphanumeric or geometric identifier containing the make, model, and serial number of the firearm when fired. The purpose of the bill is to enable law enforcement to identify the firearm used in a shooting incident when only the fired cartridge cases are recovered at the scene.
While the concept of firearms microstamping, if it could be fully developed and properly implemented, would be an attractive forensic tool, the technology remains unproven at this time. Some of the issues are:
The ability of the technology to reliable transfer an identifier containing sufficient data has not been proven. Testing has been done with identifiers comprised of only half the number of characters needed to contain the data required.
The quality of the impressions is negatively impacted by the normal cycling of the firearm. The firing cycle of a handgun involves violent motion and multiple high-pressure impacts that distort the image and limit the data recovery rate.
The durability of the image over the life of the firearm is questionable. Tests have shown softening of the character sharpness, distortion, and peening after the firing of as little as 1000 rounds.
Microstamps are easily removed by grinding or parts replacement. Firearms are made to be serviced. Disassembly and parts replacement require little time and no special skill.
The only firearms that would be microstamped are those legally sold in the State. These are the ones least likely to be used in criminal activity. A trace will only identify the original legal purchaser and will be of little forensic value if the firearm has changed hands legally or otherwise.
The proponents of this bill purport that it will provide law enforcement with a powerful tool to help in the investigation of violent crime. We believe that this is, at best, an emerging technology whose efficacy has yet to be proven. From the peer reviewed testing that has been published, substantial development and testing remain to be done.
If the technology does prove viable, it will only be effective if implemented at the Federal level. Enactment at this time would result in very expensive "feel good" legislation that can only provide a false sense of security in the face of a very real crime problem.
The CoBIS system in its nine year plus life has proven to be a multi-million dollar failure as multiple studies indicated it would be. We don't need another CoBIS like failure, this legislation should not be enacted.
WWW.SCOPEny.org
Director @ Large
BlackPowderBill
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