Gun Facts, Part Six

Myth: Every firearm leaves a unique "fingerprint" that
can pinpoint the firearm used

Fact: "Firearms that generate markings on cartridge casings can change with use and can also be readily altered by the users. They are not permanently defined like fingerprints or DNA."²³

Fact: "Automated computer matching systems do not provide conclusive results.”²⁴

Fact: “Because bullets are severely damaged on impact, they can only be examined manually”.²⁵

Fact: “Not all firearms generate markings on cartridge casings that can be identified back to the firearm.”²⁶

Fact: The same gun will produce different markings on bullets and casings, and different guns can produce similar markings.²⁷

Fact: The rifle used in the Martin Luther King assassination was test fired 18 times under court supervision, and the results showed that no two bullets were marked alike.²⁸ “Every test bullet was different because it was going over plating created by the previous bullet.”

²³ “Feasibility of a Ballistics Imaging Database for All New Handgun Sales”, Frederic Tulleners, California Department of Justice, Bureau of Forensic Services, October, 2001 (henceforth “FBID”)
²⁴ Ibid
²⁵ Ibid
²⁶ Ibid
²⁷ “Handbook of Firearms & Ballistics: Examining and Interpreting Forensic Evidence”, Heard, 1997
²⁸ “Ballistics 'fingerprinting' not foolproof”, Baltimore Sun, October 15, 2002

Current Mood: Awake
Current Music: None
Current Gun: EAA Witness .45ACP